1 . 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 Park

Located 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 Park

Another 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 Park

Covering 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 Park

Travelers 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.

2. Which park will you visit if you are interested in history?

A．Big Bend National Park.	B．Isle Royale National Park.
C．Dry Tortugas National Park.	D．Wrangell St. Elias National Park.

3. How is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park different from the other three parks?

A．With its wide roads.	B．With its large area.
C．With its beautiful scenery.	D．With its special visitors

2 . Singapore Garden Festival(SGF) is the only show in the world to gather the world’s top award-winning garden and flowery designers under one roof. This “must-see” event will impress you with a wide range of displays and activities that have been planned specially for you. An experience of a lifetime awaits at the Singapore Garden Festival for you and your family. Mark your calendar today!

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Worry that your child is bored? Sign him or her up for a guided tour in Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. It will stimulate a sense of wonder in your child as it promises a unique discovery and provides interesting learning experiences in a garden setting. Let your child explore and play so that they will learn to take care of plants and the environment while you admire the exhibits with a peace of mind.

Far East Organization Children’s Garden

Your child can have a fun-filled day with interactive games, water play features and educational programs in an abundant natural setting at Far East Organization Children’s Garden! The play zone contains play such as a sway(摇摆)bridge and stepping springs, and the Fish Fountain with an interactive landscape of water tunnels and different fish-shaped sculpture.

Marine Cove Children’s Outdoor Playground

Come and bring your child to the 3500-square-metr e playground suitable for children of various ages! It is located next to the beach, offering users open spaces and a good view of the sea. Your child can also join in the fun at a play area with talking tubes, fun mirrors and a drum set! The playground also has play equipment for children who are physically-challenged to play together. This includes special needs equipment such as sensory play panels.

1. Why is Singapore Garden Festival a “must-see” event?

A．Because it is the only show to gather different roofs.

B．Because it is a grand awarding ceremony for designers.

C．Because it attracts flowery designers to the competition.

D．Because it brings together the world-class garden and flowery designs.

2. What can the children do in Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden?

A．Have a good view of the sea.	B．Participate in interactive games.
C．Learn to look after the plants.	D．Know about ways to design parks.

3. Which of the following places suits disabled children most?

A．The Fish Fountain.

B．Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.

C．Far East Organization Children’s Garden.

D．Marine Cove Children’s Outdoor Playground.

3 . If you have a long holiday to spend, where can you go?

Nikoi Island, Indonesia

Less than 85km — but somehow a whole world away — from Singapore’s shining skyline lies Nikoi Island. Surrounded by white sandy shorelines and vivid coral reefs, Nikoi’s centre is hidden in rainforest, resulting in amazing biodiversity seen in its native plants, animal and bird life. Marrying traditional Indonesian craftsmanship with contemporary design, Nikoi boasts just 15 stilted (建于支柱上的) beach houses, all with breathtaking sea views, guaranteeing privacy and total escape from the daily grind.

Amanpulo, Philippines

The only property on Pamalican Island, the luxurious Amanpulo resort offers extremely impressive accommodation, with only access to over five kilometres of clean coral sand beach. Designed to resemble local Bahay Kubo homes, Amanpulo’s beachside, treetop and hillside villas all feature comfortable decks with hammocks (吊床) from which to enjoy the spectacular views of the greenish-blue sea below. Fill your schedule with Amanpulo’s signature aquatic adventures (including diving, windsurfing and sailing), recharge in the award-winning spa or feast upon locally caught seafood — the choice is yours.

Song Saa, Cambodia

Song Saa’s incredible ocean views, and breathtaking sunsets are a very typical example of pure paradise. Its 24 villas — each with their own sea-view private plunge pool — are designed to reflect the natural beauty of Cambodia’s coastline; built from recycled wood with straw roofs and driftwood furnishings, these presences are stylish proof of Song Saa’s admirable commitment to sustainability and conservation. You can choose to do as much or as little as you want here. With rainforest tours, island safaris and reef snorkeling, just some of the activities offer that showcase this spectacular destination.

1. What can we see in the center of Nikoi’s Island?

A．Lands of desert.

B．Streams and rivers.

C．Kinds of animals and plants.

D．Tall buildings.

2. What can we learn about the Amanpulo’s villas?

A．They are made of bricks.

B．We can have a good view of sea there.

C．They are very expensive.

D．We can learn much historic stories from them.

3. What activity can you enjoy in Song Saa?

A．Diving.

B．White rafting.

C．Mountain-climbing.

D．Rainforest tour.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To compare three holiday destinations

B．To encourage people to have a holiday

C．To list some of the best holiday activities

D．To recommend some holiday destinations

4 . 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.

2. If you are interested in foreign food, which festival do you like best?

A．The Meatopia.	B．The Ginger and Spice Festival.
C．The National Honey Show.	D．The Orange Sauce Festival.

3. What is special about the Ginger and Spice 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.

5 . Travelling with friends can be an amazing experience where you could make lifelong memories or it could ruin your friendship.     1     Here are some rules you should follow to make sure your next trip with friends goes as smoothly as possible.

    2     Sure, you and your friends probably have some similar interests, but that’s not always the case. In an effort to keep everyone happy, go over travel plans and expectations ahead of time. Have each person categorize activities or sights into “must-see”, “want to see” and “would go if we have time”. Plan accordingly and make sure everyone can see some of their top attractions.

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.     3     Have a conversation when problems arise, for communication is the key.

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.     4    

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.     5     After all, the appeal of this type of trip is to spend time with friends. Just enjoy it!

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 . Panama City, Panama

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.

2. What can you do at 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.

3. What is the common feature of the four tourist attractions?

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.

7 . 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

2. Einstein’s and Hawking’s theories 　　　.

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

3. In Paragraph 4, “grandfather paradox” probably refers to the idea that 　　　.

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

4. What is probably the author’s attitude towards time travel?

A．Unclear.	B．Skeptical.
C．Supportive.	D．Unconcerned.

8 . 4-Day Classic Beijing Tour

The 4-day classic Beijing tour is designed for tourists who come to visit China for the first time. It covers the most popular and typical places in Beijing, fully displaying the scenery, culture, history, local lifestyles and features, food and drinks, business, etc. for you.

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

Your guide meets you at Capital Airport, and helps you check in at your hotel.

Enjoy Beijing Duck as welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Beijing downtown.

Day 2: The Great Wall & The Summer Palace

Start your day at the most famous part of the Great Wall — the Badaling Great Wall. Leave the downtown for the Great Wall at 8 am. Since it is a long drive to the Great Wall (about 2 hours’ riding). Have a break at the Jade Museum on the way. Lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant. In the early afternoon come back to the city and have a sightseeing tour of the Summer Palace.

Recommended Activity: Beijing Opera Show (Liyuan Theatre,19:30-21:10 every evening).

Accommodation: Beijing downtown.

Day 3: Beijing city sightseeing & Local experience

Your guide meets you at the hotel at 8 am and set out for the day’s touring: Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City. After visiting the two sites, have a break and get ready for lunch.

Hutong visit: see some traditional arts of the old Beijing, such as paper cutting and kite making, and visit a local family.

Accommodation: Beijing downtown.

Day 4: Beijing Olympic sites

Visit the Olympic sites: Bird’s Nest, Water Cube and Olympic Park, witnessing the fast developing modern China. Enjoy some free time after visiting the sites. After lunch, it is shopping time and then the tour is over.

1. This advertisement is aimed at ________.

A．kids who were born in other cities	B．experts who study history and cities
C．foreigners who are new to China	D．people who are interested in touring

2. If a tourist wants to enjoy Beijing Opera, he should ________.

A．go to Liyuan Theatre in the evening	B．visit the Summer Palace on the first day
C．go sightseeing in Beijing Hutong	D．live and eat downtown in Beijing

3. On which day can tourists enjoy the city’s traditional arts and local lifestyle?

A．Day 4.

B．Day 3.

C．Day 2.

D．Day 1.

9 . 72 hours in Beijing

Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let’s start with the capital of China, Beijing. Here’s a pick of the best in Beijing.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Your trip to Beijing isn’t really complete without seeing one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” — the Great Wall of China. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is by far the most well-preserved of all. Taking a one-hour bus ride, Mutianyu would be your ideal location for a half-day of hiking away from the large crowds in the city. Also, the authorities have allowed tourists to paint graffiti on a specific section of the Great Wall since 2014. The Great Wall was designated (把……定名为) a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

Summer Palace

Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city’s most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views, the palace offers you a pastoral escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

798 Art Zone

This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s, the art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past.

Sichuan Provincial Restaurant

While in Beijing, apart from trying the city’s best-known Peking duck, the Sichuan provincial restaurant is one of places where you can enjoy regional delicious food. It offers one of China’s eight great cuisines, Sichuan Cuisine, which ranges from Mapo tofu to spicy chicken.

1. When was the Summer Palace added to the UNESCO World Heritage List?

A．In 1950.	B．In 1987.
C．In 1998.	D．In 2014.

2. Which place is the author’s first choice when visiting Beijing?

A．Mutianyu Great Wall.	B．798 Art Zone.
C．Summer Palace.	D．Sichuan Provincial Restaurant.

3. Who is the passage intended for?

A．The tourists who prefer to travel for free.

B．The foreigners to stay in Beijing for 4 days.

C．The visitors coming from every corner of China.

D．The foreigners coming to Beijing for the first time.

10 . Central Park

Explore Central Park, one of the largest city parks in the world and one of the most famous symbols of New York. Let’s have a look at its main sights.

Central Park is New York’s largest city park and one of the biggest in the world, with an area of 843 acres (about 3.4km²). This park is home to man-made lakes, waterfalls, grass and wooded areas. You will also find the Central Park Zoo, among other attractions in this greenspace of New York.

Besides being the city’s primary green lungs, Central Park is also a favorite spot for many New Yorkers. It is perfect for sunbathing, going for walks, or doing any outdoor sports. Something that we found curious is seeing so many people running with their babies in prams (婴儿车).

On Foot or by Bicycle

To get to know some of the wildest parts of Central Park we suggest walking. However, to get a general feel for the whole park, the best thing to do is hire a bicycle and enjoy the scenery.

If you decide to hire a bike, you will find lots of bike rental stores around Central Park that are not very expensive.

Open Time

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

From 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Price

Entry to the Park is free. But if you visit some parts like Central Park Zoo, you need to buy a ticket.

Transport

Subway: Line 5, 6, 7, A, B, C and D．

Bus: Line M1, M2, M3, M4 and M10.

Nearby places

Metropolitan Museum of Art (447 m)

Guggenheim Museum (564 m)

American Museum of Natural History (688 m)

Whitney Museum of American Art (1 km)

The Frick Collection (1.3 km)

1. What can we learn about the Central Park from the text?

A．It is home to lakes and waterfalls.

B．It is perfect for doing outdoor sports.

C．It is the largest city park in the world.

D．It is the most famous symbol of New York.

2. Which one of the following things is free?

A．Hiring a bicycle.	B．Entrance to Central Park.
C．Visiting Central Park Zoo.	D．Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

3. Where can we find this text?

A．In a science report.	B．In a geography book.
C．In a fashion magazine.	D．In a travel guide.