1 . By the time the British adventurer Ash Dykes reached Chongqing 178 days after starting to trek (长途跋涉) along the Yangtze River from its source to the sea, the most difficult part of the journey was over. Dykes had completed about 2,430 miles, and all he needed to do was cover the next 1,550 miles in 187 days or less to complete the whole journey.
On August 26 last year, a three-man team, including two guides and a horse, hit the road at the starting point, the source of the Yangtze River in the south of Qinghai Province. Then at different times for the next two months, different people had come to join them.
In order to cross the plateau (高原) and mountains in good weather, the journey was planned to start in summer. However, because of the problems in preparations, Dykes arrived in Qinghai in late August as the days were becoming shorter and colder. Not wanting to wait for another year, he decided to continue.
Within a few days three of the adventurers experienced serious high altitude sickness (高原反应). In the mountains, the team had to light fire to scare off bears, and once they had been followed by a group of wolves for two days. They were forced to quit the journey. In fact, Dykes has been walking alone since late October.
“The rest of the trip would be much easier,” Dykes said. He started from Chongqing on the second half of the journey on March 11. At the same time,he called on more people to join him in some parts of the trek as a way to encourage environmental protection.
“Travelling along the Yangtze River is not only a great act, it’s also a chance to enjoy the true beauty and wonders of China, and attract people’s attention to the environment and good work to protect it,” he wrote on his Weibo. “However, the kindness and warmth of the local people have struck me so much that it is they that make the journey unforgettable.”
1. What do we know about Dykes’ journey along the Yangtze River?A.It will cover about 3,980 miles. |
B.It will be joined by more and more people. |
C.It began in Qinghai and will end in Chongqing. |
D.It’ll take him over a year to finish the whole journey. |
A.Bad weather conditions. |
B.Not enough preparations. |
C.No partners. |
D.High altitude sickness. |
A.The importance of protecting the Yangtze River. |
B.The best way to travel along the Yangtze River. |
C.People’s effort to protect the Yangtze River. |
D.Dykes’ journey along the Yangtze River. |
2 . Food festivals are a common occurrence in the UK and take place in all sorts of places and at all sorts of times. Whatever your taste, there’s a food festival to match — no matter how specialized.
1. Meatopia
This three-day, London-based festival takes place at the end of August and is a meat lover’s paradise. In addition to a range of legally sourced meat products, from juicy burgers to tender steaks, attendees can listen to live music, watch butchery demonstrations, and attend informal meat-based workshops.
2. The National Honey Show
If you have a sweet tooth, then it could be that the National Honey Show, which started in 1921 and is the largest event of its kind, is the place for you to be. This three-day event attracts many local entries who showcase their sweet golden honey, some of which is sold globally.
3. The Orange Sauce Festival
Have you heard about a festival that is devoted only to orange sauce? Held in Cumbria, this sweet, fragrant festival has been running for 3 years. What attracts people most is a competition to find the best homemade orange sauce. There are thousands of participants from over 30 different countries across the globe, bringing their local snacks to share here.
4. The Ginger and Spice Festival
If you’d prefer something with a little more kick to it, then you could attend The Ginger (姜) and Spice Festival held in Market Drayton. Unlike other food festivals, it celebrates its town’s historic connection to Robert Clive, who returned from India with ginger. Because of this, they specialize in baking gingerbread, but also sell a range of traditional spices from mild to hot.
1. What do Meatopia and the National Honey Show have in common?A.Both of them last for three days. | B.Both of them hold workshops. |
C.Both of them originated from London. | D.Both of them have a long history. |
A.The Meatopia. | B.The Ginger and Spice Festival. |
C.The National Honey Show. | D.The Orange Sauce Festival. |
A.It has something to do with a historic figure. |
B.The ginger used in the festival is from India. |
C.It sells spicy food. |
D.The food is cooked by Robert Clive. |
3 . When people make travel decisions regarding destinations, recreation usually sits at the top of the most considered factors. But in recent years, with a rising awareness of health, travelers are beginning to upgrade their expectations. We have selected several places around China that have a perfect combination of recreation and health, in case that is what you have in mind for your next holiday.
Beijing Olympic Park
Located at the north end of the Beijing central axis line, Beijing Olympic Park witnessed the glory of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Apart from visiting the renowned Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, you can try some leisure and sports activities.
Wanlong Ski Resort, North China’s Hebei Province
Wanlong Ski Resort in Shijiazhuang City is nicknamed “heaven for ski lovers”. The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held here, which will boost ski development and tourism activities in Hebei Province. If you happen to be a skiing fan, try the professional trails here!
Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, East China’s Shandong Province
The Olympic sailing center has become a new landmark in Qingdao, a coastal city in East China’s Shandong Province. It was a host venue of the sailing games for the 29th Olympics in 2008 and the 13th Paralymic Games. You could visit the match venue and enjoy a cruise around Qingdao.
Shapotou, Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Shapotou scenic zone in Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is a transition zone between grassland and deserts. Apart from its unique natural landscape, Shapotou offers a sports program like sand skiing and rafting across the Yellow River.
Wulong Karst Region in Chongqing
Wulong is about 130 kilometers from downtown Chongqing. The 2, 900-square-kilometer district boasts karsts, caves, forests, springs and primitive wilderness. UNESCO named Wulong’s karsts as a World Natural Heritage in 2007. Sports options here include mountain climbing and hiking.
1. What is the text mainly about?A.The popular destinations to go for a holiday. |
B.The explanation for the emergence of sports tourism. |
C.Introducing the features of some sports traveling destinations. |
D.Recommending some places with sports features to go for a holiday. |
A.Shapotou | B.Wanlong Ski Resort |
C.Wulong Karst Region | D.Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center |
A.It has grassland and deserts. |
B.Tourists can enjoy sports activities there. |
C.It was named as a World Natural Heritage. |
D.People can do rafting in Wulong Karst Region. |
4 . 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. |
5 . Warwick Castle
Journey back to the Middle Ages with this full-day admission ticket to Warwick Castle.
Explore the historic castle, brought to life by actors and interesting shows, and wander across some 64 acres of parkland.
Highlights
* Climb the castle’s ancient towers.
* Keep an eye out for peacocks in the beautiful Peacock Garden.
* See one of the world’s largest working catapults (弹射器) launch a flaming fireball.
* You can upgrade your ticket to add a 50-minute visit to the dungeons (地牢).
What to Expect
The castle is usually open from 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends. Check the opening and closing hours before you plan your visit to make sure it’ll be open when you’re planning to come.
With the ticket, you can explore the castle and all it offers at your own pace. Spend time at popular attractions, including the Horrible Histories Maze, the Time Tower, the Princess Tower, and Kingmaker. You can even see some shows, including the Trebuchet Fireball Spectacular Show during which you see one of the world’s largest working catapults launch a flaming fireball.
Plus, if you’re looking for a bit of frightening excitement, you can upgrade your ticket to include a 50-minute walk through the castle’s dungeons. No matter what you choose to do, there’s something for everyone in the family.
Additional Information
* Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
* A child must be followed by an adult.
Castle Dungeon: only over 10-year-olds are permitted.
1. What should you do if you want to visit dark underground prisons?A.Visit the Peacock Garden. | B.Visit the castle’s dungeons. |
C.Visit the castle’s ancient towers. | D.Visit the Horrible Histories Maze. |
A.At 4: 00 pm on Saturday. | B.At 8: 30 am on Sunday. |
C.At 9: 00 am on weekdays. | D.At 5: 00 pm on weekdays. |
A.Book in advance. | B.Going along with adults. |
C.Upgrade their tickets. | D.Having a strong body. |
6 . You want to have fun and adventure and so you decide to travel somewhere to do it. Sounds like a simple enough thing. And basically it is. But what is adventure? That is the key here and the answer can be different for different people.
For those who love sports, adventure travel can have a whole different meaning than for those who like history. The physical travel types that you can find include such adventure travel as white water rafting ( 白 浪 漂 流 ), kayaking or climbing and hiking to some mountains somewhere. To the hiker, backpacking across Ireland might be their adventure. For this type of person, adventure travel almost always includes something physical. Often the goal is to push their body’s limits and test their individual endurance (耐力).
For those who less want to climb mountains, adventure travel might mean traveling to Nepal and taking in the local festivals. Wine tasting in Italy is also vacation adventure for the more relaxed traveler who enjoys peace and comfort. Anything that is opposite to the normal scope (范围) of the traveler’s lifestyle defines (定义) adventure.
Adventure travel is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all type of vacation. Adventure depends on the person’s physical limits, how much money the person has and what the person enjoys doing. Going beyond the normal is adventurous for many. If your life is quite busy, then sitting on a beach in the moonlight with your family might be adventure for you. The point is not what you do but that you have a good time and that it is an adventure for YOU — not for the person next to you.
Do not sit home this year when vacation time rolls around. Go beyond your normal routine and try something new. If you usually spend your vacation sunbathing on a beach, try hiking, instead, through the mountains. Look around you, think beyond your comfort zone and head out on an adventure vacation.
1. For a quiet traveler, he is most likely to choose .A.backpacking across a country |
B.wine tasting in a bar |
C.hiking to some mountains |
D.white water rafting |
A.whether you enjoy yourself |
B.whether you try something dangerous |
C.where you go for the traveling |
D.what you do in the traveling |
A.adventure travel always includes something dangerous |
B.adventure travel will cost you a large sum of money |
C.anything that goes beyond the normal is adventure travel |
D.adventure travelers like to do things to the limits of their body |
A.tips on adventure travel |
B.who is interested in adventure travel |
C.what is adventure travel |
D.popular places for adventure travel |
7 . At 12, my father decided to take me on a trip to France. I had never been out of the country before, so I was very excited. My aunt, my father and I went around with my father showing us all the unbelievable sites in Paris. None of us spoke much French but we loved the city.
We had taken the subway all over the city and were congratulating ourselves on our mastering what is honestly an excellent subway design that is pretty easy to follow. We decided to visit Versailles by train. We chatted happily along the way until my father realized we were far into the French countryside and no one around spoke English.
We reached the end of the line and felt afraid when everyone finally left the train. An old man and his grandchild noticed us and came to help. He spoke no English, so in broken French we tried to explain. When he finally understood, this great man settled his grandson and showed us to the correct train and then boarded with us.
Later we knew the truth that there was a train transfer (转乘) and he didn’t want us to miss it. This kind man rode a train for an hour and a half out of his way to make sure that three Americans got where they wanted to be. He refused to let us pay for his ticket. He did it all with a gentle smile and patted our hands gently at the stop. Then in his quiet way, he boarded the train to return the way he had come.
What impressed me most was the man and his kindness during the amazing trip. Some Americans think the French are rude for some reason, but I always try to persuade them to change their minds with this very story.
1. What happened to the author and his family on the train?A.They couldn’t understand the signs of the train. |
B.They failed to get off the train at the right time. |
C.They had different opinions about where to go first. |
D.They found it hard to communicate with the French. |
A.He paid for their train tickets. | B.He showed them the returning way. |
C.He invited them to travel together. | D.He led them to their place. |
A.Seeing is believing. | B.Being kind is a good manner. |
C.Travelling enriches one’s life. | D.Helping others brings great pleasure. |
A.To explain an unexpected problem. |
B.To list the unbelievable sites in Paris. |
C.To share an unforgettable foreign experience. |
D.To show the importance of mastering a foreign language. |
8 . A famous magazine, Amusement Today, does a survey among park lovers every year both in the US and overseas, based on which, “Top 5 List of the Best Amusement Parks in the World” has come out as follows:
Disneyland, California
Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California, the US. More than 515 million guests have traveled to this American landmark from around the world since the park first opened to guests on July 17, 1955. The park consists of many world-famous sections, such as Main Street, Adventure land, New Orleans Square, and so on.
Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida
Magic Kingdom is a theme park within the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando opened on October 1, 1971. It is the most famous theme park in Florida. The park’s design and attractions don’t make much difference from Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
EPCOT, Disney World, Florida
EPCOT is the second theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The park opened on October 1, 1982, and was named EPCOT Center from 1982 to 1993. It was the largest Disney theme park in the world until 1998, when Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened.
DisneyMGM Studios, Florida
MGM’s streets are the home for some great moviethemed attractions with a history of less than 30 years. With the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock and Roller Coaster, the park is now home to Disney World’s most thrilling rides.
Universal Studios, Florida
Go behind the scenes, beyond the screen and jump right into the action of your favorite movies at Universal Studios, the number one movie and TV theme park in the world.
1. Which of the following theme parks have similar attractions?A.Disneyland & Magic Kingdom. |
B.Disneyland & Universal Studios. |
C.EPCOT & DisneyMGM Studios. |
D.Magic Kingdom & Universal Studios. |
A.Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida. |
B.DisneyMGM Studios, Florida. |
C.EPCOT, Disney World, Florida. |
D.Disneyland, California. |
A.To attract tourists to these theme parks. |
B.To increase the sales of Amusement Today. |
C.To introduce world’s best amusement parks. |
D.To compare attractions in different theme parks. |
9 . Khotyn Fortress
Built in the 13th-14th century, it lies on the bank of the Dniester River in Khotyn, of western Ukraine. It is also in the historical northern Bessarabia region which was split in 1940 between Ukraine an Moldova. And it is near to the Old Kam'yanets Castle of Kamianets-Podilskyi, which was also used as a famous defensive structure. It is convenient to book the hotels nearby it at low prices, such as Premier Club, Reikartz Kamianets-Podilsky and so on.
Kamianets Podilski Castle
It lies in the Khmelnytsky Region, Ukraine. This architectural treasure is about 800 years old. Its architecture which unites best western and eastern traditions fits into the nature perfectly. The castle consists of minaret buildings , a town hall , an Orthodox church and a Polish Catholic church. Its beauty has been attracting tourists from all over the world for many years
Vorontsov Palace
It is an historic palace lying at the foot of the Crimean Mountains near the town of Alupka in Crimea. It is one of the oldest and largest palaces in Crimea, and one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast. The construction of the palace began in the early nineteenth century, according to a project by English architect Edward Blore and it was supposed to be the palace for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov to spend summer.
The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans
It was built between the years 1864-1882 according to the designs of the Czech architect Josef Hlavka. The Residence, whose buildings are now part of Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
1. What can we know about Khotyn Fortress?A.It served as defence work. |
B.It is open to the public for free. |
C.It is the oldest building in Ukraine. |
D.It was divided into two parts in 1940. |
A.The Kamianets Podilski Castle. |
B.The Khotyn Fortress. |
C.The Vorontsov Palace |
D.The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans. |
A.A travel magazine. |
B.A science brochure. |
C.A research paper on history. |
D.A geography textbook. |
Casa Romantica Poetry Reading Series Readings are held the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm. Promoting and celebrating the many poets living and writing in Orange County and offering the best poetry of Southern California and beyond in a setting both historic and beautiful: the Casa Romantica Cultural Center Gardens. $10.00/adult; $5.00/child (8 to 18) LOCATION: Casa Romantica 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672 INFORMATION:949-498-2139 |
Orange County Museum of Art — Visionaries Lecture Series Every Monday beginning April 20 1:30 pm — 3:30 pm Spend the coming art year answering the question — how did contemporary art become contemporary? Discover the unexpected connections between the past and present and encounter the sudden changes that shocked the art world. LOCATION: 850 San Clemente Drive Newport Beach INFORMATION: 949-759-1122 |
Discovery Science Center Presents: Mexico: Festival of Toys Now through Jan 3,2021 You’re invited to bring your children and immerse yourselves in Mexican culture through toys and games of the past and present. This interactive exhibit features hand-made toys for both celebration and play. Challenge each other in traditional Mexican games, play with authentic dolls and masks, learn about the cultural significance of Mexican toys. LOCATION: Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main St., Santa ANa, CA 92705 INFORMATION:714-542-2823 |
Donna O’ Neill Land Conservancy — Hike Off Your Thanksgiving Feast Friday, November 27,2020 9:00 am — 11:30 am Work off those holiday calories with a three-to-four-mile hike through the Conservancy. Hike up the North Ridge trail, across Middle Ridge and wind down into Gato Road. Experience the sight, sounds and warmth of our Grassland and Coastal Sage Scrub communities. $10.00/adult; $5.00/child (8 to 18); Free/Members LOCATION: The Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy RESERVATIONS: 949-489-9778 |
A.Casa Romantica Poetry Reading Series. |
B.Orange County Museum of Art — Visionaries Lecture Series. |
C.Discovery Science Center Presents: Mexico: Festival of Toys. |
D.Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy — Hike Off Your Thanksgiving Feast. |
A.850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach |
B.2500 N. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92705 |
C.the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy |
D.415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672 |
A.949-759-1122 | B.714-542-2823 |
C.949-489-9778 | D.949-498-2139 |
A.$20 | B.$25 | C.$15 | D.$10 |