1 . A Whale of a Time

The annual whale festival in Hermanus, South Africa, kicks off today. The coastal town, located on the Western Cape about 1.5 hours from Cape Town, is well-known for whale watching. It is one of the best locations in the world to witness the migration of southern fight whales. The festival, which is the only eco-arts festival in South Africa, attracts upward of 130, 000 visitors.

Hermanus also takes pride in the world’s only “Whale Crier”. His job is to go around and herald the whereabouts of whales to everyone—with his horn. Fortunately, the timing of the festival almost guarantees a whale sighting—as close as a few meters from shore!

The whales are, of course, the main attraction of the festival, but many more terrific activities are available. The seaside environment, with the mountains as a backdrop, makes an ideal setting to enjoy the festival’s musical performances and fantastic seafood. For those who desire more adventure, there’s open water swimming, a night run and sports challenges. And there are other festivities and entertainment for kids. With something for everyone, what more could ask for?

1. What’s the main attraction of the whale festival in Hermanus?

A．Whale criers.	B．Coastal landscape.
C．Whale watching.	D．Migration of fish.

2. What does “herald” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Prove.

B．Signal.

C．Choose.

D．Arrange.

3. What might an adventure lover prefer?

A．A night run.	B．Fantastic seafood.
C．Musical performance.	D．Seaside environment.

4. The underlined sentence tells us in the whale festival___________

A．nothing can be expected.	B．everyone can enjoy themselves.
C．everyone can ask for more.	D．more fun can be expected.

2 . Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.

Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.

In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.

Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person.” said the 30-year-old man.

Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”

The great 19^thcentury explorer John Muir once said. “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.

1. Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?

A．Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone.

B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries.

C．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend.

D．Traveling abroad helps people to find new things.

2. Traveling alone is challenging because ________

A．you have to make things on your own.

B．it is hard for you to prove yourself to others.

C．you can only depend on yourself whatever happens.

D．it will finally build your character.

3. What can we infer about Chris Richardson?

A．He started traveling alone at an early age.

B．He was once shot in the arm.

C．He used to work as a salesman.

D．His website will inspire others to travel alone.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Travel Abroad	B．Travel Alone
C．Travel Light	D．Travel Wide and Far

3 .

Attractions in York

York Minster Deangate, York YO1 7HH Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the largest Medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, a place for worship for over 1,000 years and a treasure house of 800 years of stained glass. Open daily subject to services. Please check in advance to avoid disappointment. Tel: 01904 557216 www.yorkminster.org    E-mail: visitors@yorkminster.org

National Railway Museum Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ Enjoy a fantastic free day out for the whole family at the National Railway Museum in York. Explore our three huge halls full of trains and railway legends including Mallard the world's fastest train and the Japanese Bullet Train. Open daily between 10 a.m.-6 p.m.      Tel: 08448 153139 www.nrm.org.uk      E-mail: nrm@nrm.org.uk

York Castle Museum Eye of York, York YO1 9RY Get ready to take a trip to the world-famous recreated Victorian Street, Kirkgate. The first street of its kind, visited by 30 million people, is alive with the sights, sounds and colourful characters of York more than 100 years ago. Step inside the shops and meet the interesting folk who work there. Opening hours: Mon-Sun 09:30 to 17:00         Tel: 01904 687687 www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk      E-mail: castle.museum@ymt.org.uk

Clifford's Tower Tower Street, York YO1 9SA Built by William the Conqueror, it was twice burned to the ground, before being rebuilt by Henry III in the 13th century. With sweeping views of York and the surrounding countryside, it isn't hard to see why Clifford's Tower played such a key role in the control of northern England. Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 to 16:00             Tel: 01904 646940 www.english-heritage.org.uk/cliffordstower E-mail: customers@english-heritage.org.uk

1. The ad most probably comes from the“____________”part of the newspaper.

A．Education.

B．History.

C．Culture.

D．Tourism

2. Where can visitors step into the well-known Victorian Street?

A．York Castle Museum.	B．National Railway Museum.
C．York Minster.	D．Clifford's Tower.

3. While visiting York Minster, the visitors can              .

A．have sweeping views of York and countryside

B．go inside the shops and meet the folk working there

C．enjoy a treasure house of 800 years of stained glass

D．see the world's fastest train and the Japanese Bullet Train

4. If you want to know more information about Clifford's Tower, you can             .

A．phone 01904 557216

B．visit the website www.nrm.org.uk

C．email to castle.museum@ymt.org.uk

D．write a letter to Tower Street, York YO1 9SA

4 . From the moment you arrive at Houtong Village in northern Taiwan, you’ll have no trouble knowing who the real stars are. There’s a cat-shaped bridge, pet food bowls on the side of the walkways, street signs with cat pictures, cat-themed cafes and, of course, furry friends wandering freely everywhere.

In the early 1900s, Houtong, in New Taipei City, was the biggest and most technologically advanced coal-mining site in Taiwan. It was a prosperous town with about 6,000 residents and workers, before the mine fell into disuse in 1990.

As most young residents moved away for better opportunities, Houtong became a sleepy village with about 100 residents. But in 2010, Houtong gained popularity after a cat-lover and photographer started blogging about the village’s growing stray (无主的) cat population.

Houtong was transformed into a cat-lover sight while also providing a source of income for local villagers. Many of the stray cats, now given affectionate nicknames, are taken care of by local villagers as well as a troop of volunteers.

In addition to the village’s many cute kitty-themed shops and cafes, the local government has also seized the opportunity to highlight its long history.

An award-winning pedestrian cat bridge was built. A cat information and education center opened in 2014, featuring higher cat walkways in front of the building. A museum park dedicated to the town’s former mining life opened in 2010, later hosting a cat lantern festival in 2012.

But Houtong, now under the spotlight, isn’t completely perfect. According to local reports, the town has become an attraction for those looking for a place to abandon their unwanted pets. During the most recent survey, it was estimated that the village is now home to about 286 cats—50 heads more than two years ago.

With the constant patting and feeding from visitors, some also flagged concerns about the health of the furry residents. The department works with local residents and volunteers to vaccinate (接种疫苗) the cats and provide regular medical treatment. Signs have been set up around town advising visitors how to behave while also pleading for the pet owners’ responsibility.

1. Why does Houtong become popular recently?

A．Because it is a town with the biggest coal-mining site.

B．Because it is a town with a long history.

C．Because it is a town where the mine falls into disuse.

D．Because it is a town featuring cats culture.

2. What does Houtong worry about nowadays?

A．Young residents moved far away for better opportunities.

B．The development of the village cannot meet the demands.

C．There are not enough volunteers in the village.

D．The cats are not in good health condition.

3. What does the underlined word “pleading” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Applying.	B．Begging.
C．Fighting.	D．Registering.

5 . We’re all familiar with the “hop on hop off” buses that tour around big cities. It seems there’s now a new option coming that’s bigger and better than those that have gone before. Next year, expedition company Adventures Overland is set to launch a new “hop on hop off” bus service that will travel 20,000km from India to England. The vehicle, which will have space for 20 people, is set to cross 18 countries in 70 days and passengers will be able to stop off in cities along the way.

People looking to book the trip will be able to choose if they want to take the entire journey, or one of the four legs (Southeast Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe). If you take the route that begins in Delhi, the bus will travel to Thailand, before going up to China, then onto Russia and European cities such as Warsaw, Prague and Brussels — before finishing in London.

Adventure Overland’s bus route was partly inspired by the Hippie Trail buses that crossed the world in the 50s and 60s. Despite being the “longest bus journey in the world”, guests are bound to be comfortable with features such as business class seats, Wi-Fi, in-seat phone charging points, private lockers and individual entertainment systems with AUX and USB ports. Anyone looking to book the great voyage must be willing to part with a considerable amount of money. Tickets for the journey are priced at £15,300 and the first departure is currently set for May 2021. “The best time to do this journey is between April and June, because that’s when the weather is favorable to start the journey from India through to Myanmar, and to cross the high mountains of China and Kyrgyzstan,” Adventures Overland co-founder Tushar Agarwal told CNN. “There are a lot of people, travelers, who want to experience these overland journeys, but they don’t want to drive.”

1. Where can be the destination of the bus service?

A．China.

B．Thailand.

C．England.

D．Russia.

2. Which of the following is Not the feature of the “hop on hop off” buses?

A．Comfortable seats.	B．Private lockers.
C．Accessible Internet.	D．Computer games.

3. When is the best time to take the journey?

A．January.

B．May.

C．July.

D．October.

6 . On the evening of June 21, 1992, a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes entered the beautiful hall of the Bell Tower Hotel in Xi’an with his bicycle. The hotel workers received him and telephoned the manager, for they had never seen a bicycle in the hotel ball before though they lived in “the kingdom of bicycles.”

Robert Friedlander, an American, arrived in Xi’an on his bicycle trip across Asia which started last December in New Delhi, India.

When he was 11, he read the book Marco Polo and made up his mind to visit the Silk Road. Now, after 44 years , he was on the Silk Road in Xi’an and his early dreams were coming true.

Robert Friedlander’s next destinations (目的地) were Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, etc. He will complete his trip in Pakistan.

1. The best headline   for this newspaper article would be _______.

A．The Kingdom of Bicycles

B．A Beautiful Hotel in Xi’an

C．Marco Polo and the Silk Road

D．An American Achieving His Aims

2. Friedlander is visiting the three countries in the following order, _______.

A．China, India, and Pakistan	B．India, China, and Pakistan
C．Pakistan, China, and India	D．China, Pakistan, and India

3. What made Friedlander want to come to China?

A．The stories about Marco Polo.

B．The famous sights in Xi’an.

C．His interest in Chinese silk.

D．His childhood dreams about bicycles.

4. Friedlander can be said to be _________ .

A．clever

B．friendly

C．hardworking

D．strong-minded

7 . We believe that the more you get out into the world, the better place it'll be. But getting out into the world shouldn't mean leaving a footprint.    1     By following those, your destination will be better after you leave.

Don't hold back. The best way to know a new place is to talk to the local people. When you're staying with them, tell them about who you are, why you're there, what you want to see and what you love about bringing yourself to new place.    2    

Dive right in. What's the point in travelling outside of your home country if you don't also get out of your comfort zone?     3     If you want to sky dive and just have had that chance, do it. You'll go home with a story, and will leave locals with a story of their own of a brave traveler who conquered their fears.

Do your homework.     4     Try to learn more about local customs, traditions and manners so that you'll arrive well equipped to enjoy your time and communicate with locals without any bad impressions.

    5     We all travel for different reasons. Don’t forget what drove you to hit the road. Sometimes, the best memories happen when you least expect them. If you open yourself up to the world, you’ll never know how the world will change you!

A．Stay honest but get open

B．Travel when you’re eager to travel.

C．Don’t do anything that you might regret.

D．There’s no better way than bring a bit of yourself to it.

E．Here are several ways to make your mark while you’re travelling.

F．Sometimes it’s best to be armed with knowledge about your destination.

G．You shouldn’t take many factors into consideration when choosing your destination.

8 . Windermere Jetty

This new museum will trace 200 years of boats and boat-building in the Lakes. The vessels on show will range from historic steam launches to record-breaking speed boats. The conservation workshop will also allow visitors to watch the restoration work take place. Venture out on to the water on cruise boats and grab the opportunity to sail on the Osprey, a restored Edwardian steam boat.

.Opens 23 March, adult £ 9, under 16s £7.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

This art-filled landscape has 500 acres of rolling hills home to works by many artists. The newly-built visitor centre, the Weston, is to open to the public, with a gallery space,restaurant and a shop selling produce that includes honey made at the park.

.Park Is open year round. new visitor centre opens 30 March, admission free, parking from £ 3 an hour.

National Centre for Children's Literature

Neverland is real after all. The "enchanted land", surrounding Moat Brae, a Georgian townhouse in Dumfries, south-west Scotland, was the inspiration behind the tale of Peter Pan. The house is being restored to its former glory and transformed into a cultural centre celebrating children’s literature. It will include an interactive exhibition, garden adventure trails, bookshop, cafe, as well as hosting workshops and events.

.Opens 3 May, tickets on sale in April.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia

New activities at this redeveloped adventure centre in Wales include indoor climbing and artificial caving, and an adventure playground. The centre was the world's first inland surf hub. Currently there's pod and camping, including use of hot tubs and sauna, with plans for an on-site hotel and spa for 2020.

.Off-peak surfing £ 35 adult, £ 25 child; surf lessons from £ 50 adult, £ 40 child.

1. What can be expected in Windermere Jetty?

A．Different crafts	B．Great scenery
C．Riding a steam boat	D．Restoring some ships

2. Where can local produce be accessed?

A．Windermere Jetty

B．Yorkshire Sculpture Park

C．National Centre for Children's Literature

D．Adventure Parc Snowdonia

3. Which of the following was inspired by the tale of Peter Pan?

A．Neverland

B．Moat Brae

C．Dumfries.

D．Scotland

9 . July 20, 2021 marks the 52th anniversary of the first moon landing. The National Space Center will provide you with super-size space experiences: a giant Earth model, a domed planetarium （穹顶天文台） and a 42-meter rocket tower. It's all under cover so it's a good place to visit on a rainy day.

Ticket

It's not cheap-adult $15, 5-to-16-year-olds $12-but once you've paid you can revisitas many times as you want in a year, and admission is free for kids under five.

Opening hours

10 am-4 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am-5 pm weekends and school holidays.

What about lunch?

The Boosters Cafe serves reasonably priced hot and cold snacks and drinks at the foot of the center's two rockets. The cafe offers vegetarian (素食的)option too.

Exit through the gift shop?

It's stocked with souvenirs including books, games and telescopes. Some are quite pricey. The gift shop is the first thing you pass on entry and also the last thing you see as you leave.

1. What gifts can you buy in the Center?

A．Rockets.

B．Telescopes.

C．Pencils.

D．Earth models.

2. What can you learn about the National Space Center?

A．It is free for kids under 6.	B．It has two gift shops.
C．It is vegetarian-friendly.	D．It is open at night in holidays.

3. What is this passage mainly about?

A．Holiday plans.	B．Space experiences.
C．Suggestions for visiting the Center.	D．Information about the Center

10 . Visiting During Coronavirus

Take time to walk in Shakespeare's footsteps, without the usual crowds. Your visit to Shakespeare's Birthplace will help us to ensure that Shakespeare's heritage survives this difficult period for future visitors to enjoy.

To keep our visitors and staff safe, we have introduced a timed ticket system. All tickets must be booked in advance, even if you have a pre-existing ticket. Groups larger than 6 are not allowed to book, meet, or interact at our site unless they are part of the same household. Sec below for more details and read about the extra safety measures we've put in place.

Please note that Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Shakespeare's New Place, Mary Arden's Farm and Hall's Croft will remain closed until at least spring 2021.

Pre-booking is essential

Online booking is essential to secure your time slot. We'll be unable to grant you entry without a pre-booked, tinted entry ticket. Tickets will be released every Friday, with availability up to 2 weeks in advance.

Before your visit

Please bear the following things in mind, and check our website and social media for updates before travelling.

● If showing COVID-19 symptoms please stay at home.

● Wear a face covering in indoor spaces (unless exempt).

● We may conduct temperature checks.

● Bag searches are in operation.

● We do not offer cloakroom/baggage store facilities.

● Be ready for cashless payments.

NHS Covid-19 Test and Trace app

Visitors are encouraged to download the NIIS Covid-19 Test and Trace app prior to arrival at Shakespeare's Birthplace and "check-in" by scanning the QR code available at the ticket desk and entrance to the shop.

1. Which of the following can you visit before spring 2021?

A．Shakespeare's Birthplace.	B．Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
C． Mary Arden's Farm.	D．Hall's Croft.

2. Which kind of ticket can ensure your entry during Coronavirus?

A．A ticket released on Friday.	B．An online booked annual ticket.
C．A pre-bought season ticket.	D．A pre-booked, timed entry ticket.

3. What is required before visiting?

A．You must stay at home for 14 days.	B．Your bag will be searched.
C．You should take enough cash with you.	D．You must have your face covered.