1 . In Europe, there are countless cities which are worth visiting, among which Prague and Vienna are both wonderful and exciting cities with a stunning modern atmosphere and ancient history and culture. If you’ve got a European vacation planned, but your limited time or budget can only allow you to explore one of these amazing cities, it may not be an easy decision to make, since each of them may own some unique or outstanding features.
Sightseeing
While both cities are rich in sightseeing adventures, Prague is definitely more beautiful as a city. You can walk along the Danube River for breathtaking views, sit in one of the many cafes that dot the urban landscape, and breathe in the amazing architecture both old and modern that makes up this Central European metropolis (都市). Vienna is a hotbed of history, home to such great sites such as the Hofburg, Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Shopping
You most likely don’t travel all the way to Europe just to go shopping. But, if you happen to be a shopaholic, Vienna is definitely a better choice. But be warned: fine goods you buy in Vienna will sometimes be three times more expensive than what they are in the United States or Canada.
Cuisine
When it comes to great dining, both cities are equally fascinating. Austrians are known for their love of sweets and snacks, which is reflected in many bakeries, cafés, and restaurants scattered around Vienna. Some restaurants in either city offer local cuisine, though you’re more likely to be eating a combination of Western European or even Americanized food. Bear in mind that Prague (being that it is in Central Europe) will be far less pricey than Vienna.
Culture
What do you hope to see on your trip? Palaces? Medieval Cathedrals? The Opera? How about museums? If you do happen to visit both cities, you’ll find that culture equally as enriching. However, Vienna has more world-class museums which display the rich history of the area.
1. Which word can best describe Vienna about sightseeing?| A．Diverse. | B．Historic. | C．Modern. | D．Romantic. |
| A．Prague has more appealing tourist attractions than Vienna. |
| B．Vienna is a paradise for shopping due to the cheap goods there. |
| C．The food can cost more in Vienna compared with that in Prague. |
| D．Prague is home to many world-known museums and cathedrals. |
| A．By comparison. | B．By listing examples. |
| C．By providing figures. | D．By asking questions. |
2 . Bird watching is a wonderful year-round activity. It is a wonderful way to learn about nature and enjoy many of the delights of nature. In addition, it is an activity that can be enjoyed almost anywhere in the world. Here are a few great destinations in the United States for bird watching lovers to visit.
Hakalau Forest, Hawaii
This beautiful Hawaiian forest on the Manua Kea on the Big Island is a good destination to see some of Hawaii’s unique birds. Birders should be sure to look for the Hawaiian Honeycreeper(旋蜜雀), as well as 3 kinds of Hawaiian ducks and more.
Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Arizona
Southeast of Tucson, this is a wonderful place for watching hummingbirds (蜂鸟). Birders can see up to 14 kinds of these fun little birds. In addition, about other 75 kinds of birds call the valley home, including red-faced birds, and many others.
San Luis Complex, California
The place within the San Joaquin Valley provides enough opportunity for birders to enjoy many species of California birds. Birders even have the opportunity to see Aleutian Canada Geese. Visitors to this place should also keep an eye out for the groups of tule elk (驼鹿) that call the area home.
Klamath Basin Complex, Oregon
This Oregon destination is an amazing bird watching place. Many types of geese and ducks call this place home. Visitors to the place can see Snow Geese, Canada Geese and a lot of kinds of animals.
1. What kind of birds can be seen in Ramsey Canyon Preserve?| A．Hummingbirds. | B．Canada Geese. |
| C．Honeycreepers. | D．The Hawaiian ducks. |
| A．Many kinds of birds live there. | B．It is a good place for bird watching. |
| C．Visitors can see some geese. | D．Visitors can see some kind of deer. |
| A．A biology textbook. | B．A travel magazine. |
| C．A research paper. | D．A health magazine. |
3 . Can you imagine an ancient and quiet place? Well, this is Vicenza, my hometown. Every time I have the opportunity to speak about Vicenza with foreign people who do some sightseeing in Europe, I realize that it gets less credit than it deserves. Everybody knows Venice, Rome, and Florence very well, but only a few know the attraction of Vicenza.
Vicenza has to be taken into special consideration for the important historical buildings by Andrea Palladio, who was born in Padua (1508-1580), one of the most famous architects in the world. It was during the Renaissance and the next four hundred years in which Vicenza was under the protection of the Republic of Venice that the great structures were constructed, making Vicenza well-known throughout Europe and giving it the remarkable and distinctive appearance which it keeps today.
Apart from its historical district, Vicenza is surrounded by beautiful hills and countryside where you can spend time walking, sightseeing, and having delicious meals in the numerous restaurants which serve typical foods and good drinks. Moreover, in Vicenza’s countryside there are splendid villas. This is where many Venetians used to spend their summers, farming their land during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Vicenza is a must-see for people fond of historical works. In addition, there are jazz and classical music concerts, ballets, and theatre performances, mostly during the autumn. It may be that young people feel Vicenza is not a place where they can have fun, but there are also pizzerias and pubs where contemporary music is performed, so they can have a good time there, too. Everyone needs to come to Vicenza to get to know it. They will see and touch the contributions to beauty that it made to the world.
1. When it comes to Vicenza, the author thinks _______.| A．it is actually well worth visiting | B．it lives up to its reputation |
| C．just a few people really like it | D．foreign visitors are pulled in by it |
| A．Influence of the Renaissance. | B．Surrounding hills and countryside. |
| C．Protection from the Republic of Venice. | D．Buildings designed by Andrea Palladio. |
| A．Those enjoying living a modern life. | B．Those having a preference for fashion. |
| C．Those showing enthusiasm for art. | D．Those wanting to learn about farming. |
| A．Vicenza: a city of unexpected beauty | B．The Renaissance: foundation of Vicenza |
| C．What do foreign people think of Vicenza? | D．Why is Vicenza attractive to young people? |
4 . Travelling can be a positive and life-changing experience. While it is possible for you to feel tired, it will turn you into a storyteller.
First things first, it is important to know why you want to travel. Is it for some adventure, relaxation or to experience new things?
When you’ve decided where you want to go, the next most important thing is to check your budget. Do you think you’ve got enough bills in your pocket that you can travel to your chosen place?
Once you know why you want to travel and have the budget in hand, you can have a better idea about the type of destination you want to visit. Are you interested in historic sites? Beaches? Night life? Mountains?
Even if you know you’ve saved enough, you still want to travel as cheaply as possible and save some more. So look for cheap travel deals across the Internet and you’ll surely find a deal and experience that suits your budget. Some deals even include hotel accommodation, transport, city tours, etc.
| A．If done right |
| B．If you depend on your interests |
| C．Once you understand the reason for your travel |
| D．If not, it’s time to start saving now with a positive attitude |
| E．It is important that you should choose the way of travelling |
| F．If having enough money you can choose to travel to a farther place |
| G．One good trick is to book flights as early as possible for discounts and special offers |
5 . There are two May bank holidays coming up! While we're sure you're excited to have a few extra days with your family and friends this month, we know you re probably wondering how to keep them occupied! A day trip or weekend getaway to London may be a good choice. We've picked the top four things to do!
SEALIFE London
London may not be top of mind when it comes to checking all your favorite sea creatures but SEALIFE London offers a further understanding of the underwater world. Head over to the new Rainforest Adventure and come face to face with some of the strangest creatures you’ve ever seen.
Adult admission: £ 26[ save £ 26 with 2 FOR 1]
Clip’ n Climb
Head to this colorful labyrinth (迷宫) in Chelsea where the little ones can swing, climb and explore to their hearts content. Let them take on the challenge of the “The scraper”, “Jungle Gym" and lots more. You can even register- to "climbercise", which includes a harness(马具) fitting, warm up and 60 minutes inside the climbing arena(场地).
Child admission: £ 17.50
ZSL London Zoo
Everyone loves a day out at the zoo. Explore the 750 species of animal and discover thousands of surprising and fascinating facts just waiting to be discovered. Hear the roar of the Asiatic lions, then catch a glimpse of the friendly giraffes. Wander through the ring-tailed lemurs(狐猴) before heading over to BUGS to quiz the insect experts. You just have to experience It yourselves.
Adult admission: £ 27.04 [save £ 27.04 with 2 FOR 1]
Kidzania
KidZania is a child-sized city in Shepherd’s Bush where the kids are in charge. Watch the excitement on their faces as they try out more than 60 real-life role-play activities. An empowering and entertaining experience, not to be missed!
Admission: £ 35(online) [save £ 35 with 2 FOR 1]
1. Where can people go if they like giraffes?| A．Clip’ n Climb | B．ZSL London Zoo |
| C．SEALIFE London | D．Kidzania |
| A．It offers people’s favorite creatures. |
| B．People like travelling there best. |
| C．All the creatures there are strange. |
| D．People can experience an adventure. |
| A．35. | B．52 | C．54.08 | D．70 |
6 . The Isle of Wight, of the south Coast of England, is the best place in Europe for discovering dinosaur bones. Dinosaur Farm Museum was established in 1993. Since then, the museum has introduced the study of old bones to many more people.
What we offer
Visitors can enjoy our displays or watch us cleaning dinosaur bones and other fossils found in the island' beaches.
The museum has a variety of different fossils, many of them never displayed to the public before. As more are discovered all the time, you can be sure of seeing something new each time you visit.
We have a free Fossil Identification Service, so you can bring in any fossils you have and find out what they are. In addition, we have a reasonably-priced Museum Shop, where you can buy a souvenir of your visit., You could also bring a picnic and relax in our special picnic area.
Activities
Fossil hunts are organized by the museum and run all year around. Groups of up to 25 are guided on a local beach where they can search for fossils. All these hunts are fully licensed and insured, and guides can help to identify any fossils found and point out things of interest.
Due to the popularity of these hunts, all trips must be booked by a personal visit to Dinosaur Farm Museum.
Did you know...
The BBC program "Live from Dinosaur Island" was filmed along the coast here, and Dinosaur Farm Museum was the base for the television crew.
Find out more
Check out our website at www. isleofweigh/diosaurfarm to learn in detail how we dig for dinosaurs. You can also read about the many different kinds of dinosaurs which lived in this area, which was connected to Europe 120 million years ago.
1. What can visitors do at the museum according to the passage?| A．They can have a souvenir shop about dinosaurs. |
| B．They can help clean the dinosaur bones for free. |
| C．They can have a free Fossil Identification Service. |
| D．They can find out more details about dinosaurs worldwide. |
| A．Because the hunts are fully licensed and insured. |
| B．Because the hunt are enjoyed by a large number of people. |
| C．Because the hunt are organized by the museum and run all years round. |
| D．Because the hunts are guided on a local beach where visitors can search for fossils. |
| A．A history book |
| B．A science fiction story |
| C．A travel magazine |
| D．A conference interview |
7 . 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.
STAY AWAY 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 an alternative, consider checking into a selfcatering flat with its own kitchen. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city center 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. “Farringdon” in Paragraph 5 is most probably ________.| A．the tube line to Covent Garden | B．a hotel away from the train station |
| C．the name of a travel agency | D．an ideal holiday destination |
| A．lies on the ground floor |
| B．provides cooking tools for tourists |
| C．is located in central London |
| D．costs over ￡100 on average per day in late September |
| A．to offer visitors some moneysaving tips |
| B．to show visitors the importance of selfhelp |
| C．to supply visitors with hotel information |
| D．to tell visitors how to book in advance |
8 . Tongariro National Park, known for its brilliant natural features, became New Zealand's first national park in 1887. The 80,000-hectare park is an ideal place to view the volcanic wonders which outstands among 13 national parks in the country.
Activities
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The deservedly popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing features phenomenal volcanic scenery and fine views of Lake Taupo and Mt Taranaki.
Multiday Walks
Overnight hikes in the park include the four — day Northern Circuit and the six-day Round the Mountain track-one of New Zealand's Great Walks.
Nature 曲(路径)
A series of short nature trails around Tongariro's lower valleys take in the various habitats, home to fascinating and diverse native plants and animals, and are a great way to get to know the park's special places and stories. Home to the national park visitor center, Whakapapa Village is a good place to start exploring.
Waterfall-watching
Dramatic waterfalls are a Tongariro National Park specialty. See them on a number of spectacular short walks including Taranaki Falls, Watonga Falls, Silica Rapids and Tawhai Fails.
Key Tips
• Before departing on a walk, check at the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre for up-to-date information on weather, volcanic activity and track conditions.
• Fill in an intention form at the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre if you plan to overnight in a hikers' hut.
• Whatever kind of accommodation you choose, it will pay to book in advance during peak season ( December to March).
1. What distinguishes Tongariro National Park from others?| A．Its long history. | B．Its massive area. |
| C．Its volcanic wonders. | D．Its colorful activities. |
| A．Tongariro Alpine Crossing. | B．Multiday Walks. |
| C．Nature Trails. | D．Waterfall-watching. |
| A．January. | B．February. | C．March. | D．April. |
9 . Arbeia Roman Fort (城堡) and Museum
Location and History
Arbeia Roman Fort is situated on Hadrian’s Wall. It was the most important structure built by the Romans in Britain, and now it has been a World Heritage (遗产) Site. Built around AD 160, Arbeia Roman Fort was the military supply base for the soldiers who were stationed along Hadrian’s Wall. The fort has been gradually uncovered and some original parts have been revealed. There are reconstructions that show how Arbeia Roman Fort would have looked.
The Reconstructions
The reconstructions of the Commanding Officer’s house and soldiers’ quarters are strikingly different. The accommodation for soldiers is dark and uncomfortable, while the Commanding Officer’s house is spacious and luxurious, with courtyards with fountains for him and his family to enjoy.
The Museum
Visit the museum and see many objects that were found at Arbeia. They are historically important and show what daily life was really like at that time. You will see weapons, tools, jewellery, and so on. You can also discover how the Romans buried their dead and see tombstones (墓碑) which survive to this day. There is a “hands-on” area allowing visitors to dig on a certain site and study their findings with the help of museum staff. You can piece together pottery (陶器), or try writing just as the Romans would have done. For children, they can build this ancient Roman fort with building blocks by themselves.
| Opening Times and Getting There April 1-October 31: Monday to Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm-5:00pm. November 1-March 31: Monday to Saturday 11:00am-4:00pm, closed Sunday. (Closed December 25-26 and January 1) Entry is free. Arbeia is only a ten-minute walk from the bus station at South Shields. Free car park nearby. Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/arbeia |
| A．was related to the military | B．got reconstructions around AD 160 |
| C．was built in a small area in Rome | D．provided a comfortable life for soldiers |
| A．Try using weapons. | B．See historical objects. |
| C．Write to ancient Romans. | D．Build tombstones for the dead. |
| A．On April 1. | B．On October 31. |
| C．On November 1. | D．On December 26. |
10 . Chinese tourists prefer hotels and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad. Most Chinese tourists instantly update their social networks using their mobile phones. They send photos and short videos to friends and family when traveling abroad.
About 10 percent of outbound (出境的) Chinese tourists get expensive marring charges (漫游费) by using 4G-powered smart phones. About 90 percent of Chinese travelers consider free Wi-Fi indispensable when traveling abroad. They often use phone apps to create travel routes and book hotels, which requires large data flows that can be expensive without Wi-Fi.
But free Wi-Fi is not always available, even in regions with advanced telecommunications, such as the United States and Europe. Portable Wi-Fi costs 15~50 yuan a day, depending on the country. It’s cheaper in South Korea, Japan and Thailand. The Wi-Fi services increase rapidly thanks to reasonable pricing and smooth surfing.
More than 100 million Chinese went abroad last year, and the10 percent who used Wi-Fi services spent an average of 150 yuan, and it’s expected to grow largely. But the travel agencies business may become out of date in five to eight years, because more locations are offering free Wi-Fi. In the meantime, it is reported that more for-profit models should be introduced and offer more services for outbound travelers in the future.
1. Why do Chinese travelers prefer hotels and restaurants with free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad?| A．They want to have their phones updated. |
| B．They are fond of using phone apps to create their travel routes. |
| C．They prefer to experience the Wi-Fi service in different countries. |
| D．They'd like to share what they have seen with their friends and-family. |
| A．Necessary. | B．Useless. | C．Expensive. | D．Amazing. |
| A．Travel websites will stop offering free Wi-Fi services to travelers. |
| B．Travel website Tuniu intended to compete with Ctrip and launched its Wi-Fi phone service. |
| C．The Wi-Fi costs less when traveling in some Asian countries than in European countries. |
| D．The demand for Wi-Fi transmitters is growing in pace with 4G-smart phones. |
| A．It will be useless when for-profit models are introduced. |
| B．It will be used by more than 100 million Chinese next year. |
| C．It will grow in the future but will be outdated in a couple of years. |
| D．It will offer more non-profit services for outbound travelers. |
