1 . Southeast Asia is well-known for its colorful natural and historical attractions. Check out these four man-made impressive sites that are always attracting large tourists.
Golden Bridge, Vietnam
High up on Ba Na hills near Da Nang in Vietnam sits a pair of giant hands designed to look like the hands of God pulling out a strip of gold from the land. The 150-metre Golden Bridge, just opened in June, rises more than 1,400 metres above sea level and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Futuristic-looking giant trees and a man-made forest under a glass dome (穹顶) are part of this multi-award winning destination that opened in 2012.The giant super trees are between 9 and 16 storeys tall and you can take a walk to enjoy the view from above. A short walk away, youll come across the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest.
Statue of Lord Murugan, Batu Caves, Malaysia
Just 12 kilometres from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, the statue of Lord Murugan, located at the Sri Murugan Perumal Kovil at the foot of Batu Caves, was completed in 2006 and stands a little over 42 metres tall. There are three limestone (石灰岩) caves in the area. Visitors have to scale 272 steps in order to reach the entrance of the caves.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei
Named after the 28th sultan of Brunei, the grand mosque was completed in 1958.The impressive building is surrounded by an artificial lagoon, where a copy of a 16th century royal ship is docked at the end of a marble bridge.
1. Where can tourists enjoy the view from above the trees?| A．Golden Bridge, Vietnam. |
| B．Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. |
| C．Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei. |
| D．Statue of Lord Murugan, Batu Caves, Malaysia. |
| A．Climb stairs. | B．Take a small boat. |
| C．Walk through a forest. | D．Go across a golden bridge. |
| A．They are related to religions. | B．They stand near the beach. |
| C．They are created by people. | D．They exist for centuries. |
2 . Attractions for Kids with Dinosaur Fever
While there are plenty of movies and books that can teach your little one all about dinosaurs, the following children’s attractions will allow them to come face-to-face with their favorite dinosaurs and learn in an interactive, fun environment.
1. Dinosaurs Alive at Cedar Point
Sandusky, OH
See the “age of dinosaurs” come to life with interactive exhibits based on real fossil evidence. At the Dinosaurs Alive section of Cedar Point park, visitors can walk among more than 50 life-sized dinosaurs which move and roar. See these gigantic lizards (蜥蜴) up close and learn more about the most fearsome period of the earth’s history.
2. The Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Children’s Museum is filled with plenty of activities for kids of all ages, but one of the coolest has to be the Dinosaur Exhibition. At this exhibit, children can spend time digging for dinosaur bones at an excavation (挖掘) site, looking at dinosaur fossils, and learning what life is like for real archaeologists (考古学家).
3. Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA
In addition to plenty of exhibits about wildlife, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has one of the finest dinosaur fossil collections in the world. Visitors can see experts work with real dinosaur fossils in the PaleoLab. Make sure to snap a photo in front of Dippy, the scarf-loving dinosaur guarding the front of the museum!
4. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
From the dinosaurs exploding out of the side of the building to the fossils within, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is filled with fun things to do. Kids can touch a real T-rex bone and see reconstructed dinosaur skeletons up close.
1. Who are the attractions mainly intended for?| A．Children. | B．Parents. | C．Archaeologists. | D．Volunteers. |
| A．Dinosaurs Alive at Cedar Point. | B．The Chicago Children’s Museum. |
| C．Carnegie Museum of Natural History. | D．The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. |
| A．Touch a real T- rex bone. | B．Take a photo in front of Dippy. |
| C．See reconstructed dinosaur skeletons. | D．See experts work with fake dinosaur fossils. |
3 . The most affordable countries to buy a home
The cost of living in countries like the US, Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years. However, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting(拥有) an extremely low cost of living. Check out the following countries when planning your next move.
Ecuador
Ecuador is similar to the US in many ways, and as a result it has become a popular American getaway. It even uses the US dollar for its currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out every day than to cook for yourself on a budget in the US. You can even buy a house of around $50,000 and hire someone to tend it while you’re away.
Mexico
Although the country is known for its poverty-ridden streets, there are many wealthier areas that provide what you might need. You can live off mere $700 to $800 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, facilities, food and any sightseeing.
Argentina
Argentina has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has great restaurants, a rich history and many places to explore, not to mention the fact that it’s not very expensive to live there. A proper-sized home can cost around $139,000, which is relatively cheap in relation to homes in the US.
Vietnam
Vietnam has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years. There are many million-dollar luxury homes by the beach, but you can find a modest flat or small home for around $25,000 to $50,000 if you search in the right areas.
1. Which country may be the most popular destination for Americans?| A．Ecuador. | B．Mexico. |
| C．Argentina. | D．Vietnam. |
| A．About $9,800. | B．About $8,800. |
| C．About $8,000. | D．About $7,000. |
| A．They both have a long history. |
| B．They both have great restaurants |
| C．They are both attractive to tourists. |
| D．They both have high living cost. |
4 . Asia is the birthplace of the world’s three ancient civilizations: ancient China, ancient India and Babylon. Each gave the world different architectural styles and global landmarks, such as the Great Wall of China. Taj Mahal of India.With the conclusion of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilization, let’s take a look at the architecture of Asian civilizations.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is an ancient defense project with the longest construction time and the largest workload put into a landmark, stretching out to a total length of more than 5,000 kilometers. Only when you have been to the Great Wall and witnessed its majesty can you truly say you have visited China.
Angkor Wat,Cambodia
The Angkor Wat in Cambodia is one of the largest religious monuments in the world,built on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman Ⅱ in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura(present-day Angkor),the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum(陵墓).
Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra.It was commissioned in 1632 by Mughalemperor Shah to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being“the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”
Al-Khazneh, Jordan
Al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, is one of the most delicate temples in the ancient Arab Nabataean Kingdom city of Petra,Jordan. The 45-meter-high and 30-meter-wide building is a magnificent building with a pronounced Greek style. It is said to have been a place where pirates hid their treasure.
1. What is special about the Great Wall compared with the others in the article?| A．It is the longest man-made project in the world. |
| B．It was listed in the UNESCO world Heritage Site. |
| C．It was used as a defense project in the ancient China. |
| D．It used to be used as a religious/purpose in China |
| A．The Angkor Wat. | B．The Taj Mahal. |
| C．AI-Khazneh. | D．The Treasury |
| A．The Great Wall. | B．The Angkor Wat. |
| C．The Taj Mahal. | D．AI-Khazneh. |
5 . Take Advantage of Free Fun Fridays
Fridays just got a whole lot better, thanks to Free Fun Fridays. During the summer months visitors get free admission each Friday to many popular destinations in Massachusetts. Check out the exciting destinations for this Friday offering no-cost admission below.
Gloucester Stage Company
One of New England’s premier theater companies invites you to a free performance of Cyrano, a modern retelling of the 1897 Rostand classic Cyrano de Bergerac. Set in the 21st century, it was written by Jason O’Connell and Brenda Withers.
267 E. Main St., Gloucester, call 978-281-4433 for tickets, limit of four per household.
Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History
Learn about history and the story of society, cultures, and identity through stamps at this museum at Regis College. The museum is child-friendly, offering activities like stamp scavenger hunts and a chance for children to create their own stamp collections. As an added bonus, youngsters receive free packets of stamps.
241 Wellesley St., at Regis College, Weston, open from 9 am to 5 pm; phone: 781-768-8367.
Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association
The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association is named after local astronomer, naturalist, and educator Maria Mitchell, who discovered a comet（彗星）in 1847. The association operates two observatories（天文台）, in operation since 1908. The association has a natural science museum, so visitors of all ages will find plenty of science and history-related programming:"
4 Vestal St., Nantucket, open from 10 am to 4 pm; phone: 508-228-9198.
Chatham Shark Center
Take a deep dive into the life of the great white shark at the Chatham Shark Center. Visitors can learn new and exciting research on the misunderstood species in an interactive and engaging way through the center’s fantastic interactive exhibitions, displays, and videos.
235 Orleans Rd., North Chatham, open from 10 am to 4 pm; phone: 508-348-5901.
1. What can the Gloucester Stage Company offer?| A．Free tickets for four families. |
| B．Four free tickets for each family. |
| C．Free performances all the year around. |
| D．Free performances throughout the week. |
| A．Gloucester. | B．Weston. |
| C．North Chatham. | D．Nantucket. |
| A．They can interact with other fish. |
| B．They can communicate with humans. |
| C．People are not interested in learning about them. |
| D．People usually have a wrong impression of them. |
6 . Maybe you are fearful of missing your holidays due to long waits for new passports.
Check your passport to see when it was issued
“After travel took a pause for many holidaymakers during the pandemic, plenty of passports need to be renewed. To beat any disappointments for your summer vacations, you’ll want to make sure that it has been no more than ten years since your passport was issued,” Naveen says. “
“I’d recommend thoroughly checking your application before you send it off. Many delays are made through typical errors—such as incorrect photos or typos—which can worsen your chances of receiving a passport in time for a summer trip,” he continues.
Go for digital rather than paper
Naveen advises, “There are many variables(变数)that go into how long it will take to get your passport renewed—from a first- time passport to a child’s renewal. When it comes to the method of how you apply, digital applications generally take a short amount of time as parts of the application are less likely to get lost, plus the online process will be more efficient.
Make an appointment in person or over the phone
“With the current demand for travel in recent months, even the fast-track services for passport renewal are becoming overwhelmed so there is no quick fix(捷径)to receiving your passport on time,” he says. “
| A．Ensure your details are correct |
| B．Admit your information of passports is right |
| C．Many people don’t like the stressful life and want to travel |
| D．Keep this in mind if you don’t want to end up being stuck in the waiting line |
| E．Naveen, founder of Next Vacay, has issued four tips to speed up the passport process |
| F．You also need the minimum of three or six months to gain entry into many destinations |
| G．However, if you are traveling for an emergency, you may be able to accelerate the process |
7 . The Out of Eden Walk, following the route in which our ancestors walked from Africa to other parts of the world, is finally restarting after COVID-19 closed overland borders last year.
The host Paul Salopek is a Pulitzer-winning journalist and photographer and has been traveling overland on foot, documenting his trip across the world. Through the walk, Salopek wants to connect the ancient stories of our human ancestors with the stories of our time and tell us more about what it means to be human.
“For more than eight years, I have followed the first human beings who walked out of Africa during the Stone Age,” he says, “My storytelling journey, called the Out of Eden Walk, has been stuck in Myanmar for months, where this pandemic (流行病) became out of control. The pandemic has blocked thousands of miles of Asian land borders.”
Salopek describes thinking back to eight years ago, when he started in the rocky highlands of Ethiopia, visiting the resting sites of the earliest human ancestors. Entering the countries in the Middle East, he saw some scenes of war in Syria. Then he crossed the vast grasslands of the Central Asian Steppe and reached the steamy river valleys of Yunnan. “A hundred generations of mountaineers have carried tea and other goods on the roads of Yunnan,” says Salopek as he finishes his first travel days in 20 months.
While difficult to say, Salopek’s journey could be described as half over, as he still must cross northeastward through China and Russia, before crossing the Bering Strait in winter and continuing to walk south all the way to the tip of South America, just as our early ancestors did, with the special exception of the Pacific Islanders. Half-time is often a good period to jump into a sports match, and as Salopek prepares to continue one of humanity’s all-time great walkabouts, it’s worth tuning in to see how the match ends.
1. What do we know about the Out of Eden Walk from the text?| A．It started from Asia seven years ago. | B．It was held in memory of our ancestors. |
| C．It is being hosted by a famous writer. | D．It helps us know our human ancestors better. |
| A．He fell seriously ill. | B．The global COVID-19 hit. |
| C．The scenery fascinated him. | D．He found more human stories. |
| A．In Ethiopia. | B．In China. | C．In Myanmar. | D．In Syria. |
| A．The Story Told by Paul Salopek | B．A Storytelling Journey to Continue |
| C．Walking Freely Around the World | D．The Biggest Challenge on the Route |
8 . There are 19 children’s parks in Beijing with activities geared to the younger crowd. A few are detailed below:
Youth Activity Center at Guanyuan
Guanyuan, located north of the Chegongzhuang subway station, was once the garden of government officials and the royal family. The garden was burned down in the Ming Dynasty, rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty and burned again around the turn of the 20th century. As the largest and best-equipped children’s park in Beijing, the center includes the Hall of Science and Technology with manually operated exhibits, the Cultural and Art Hall for music and other performances and the Sports Hall.
Soong Ching Ling Children’s Science Park
In Yuyuantan between Sanlihe Road and West Sanhuan Road, this park offers a science hall and amusement park rides in a lovely natural setting. Cherry trees attract visitors in spring. The lake brings swans and wild ducks in the warmer months and swimmers year around.
Beijing Amusement Park
On the shore of Longtanhu Park in the Chongwen District, Beijing Amusement Park, a Sino-Japanese joint venture, combines modern amusement facilities with garden landscaping. There are nearly 90,000 trees, 11 bridges, 115,000 square meters of water surface and 122 rowboats to be enjoyed.
Shijingshan Amusement Park
Shijingshan Amusement Park, opened in 1986, north of the Bajiaocun subway station, brings a Cinderella Castle straight out of Grimm’s fairy tale into the heart of Beijing. Chinese gardening, European architecture and Japanese amusement facilities create a unique atmosphere.
1. What can we know about Youth Activity Center at Guanyuan?| A．It belonged to ancient officials’ garden. |
| B．It is the largest children’s park in China. |
| C．It was once damaged twice in history. |
| D．It creates a unique atmosphere for kids. |
| A．Natural scenery. | B．Cherry trees. |
| C．Swans and wild ducks. | D．Modern equipment. |
| A．Beijing Amusement Park. |
| B．Shijingshan Amusement Park. |
| C．Youth Activity Center at Guanyuan. |
| D．Soong Ching Ling Children’s Science Park. |
9 . 4 of the World’s Most Amazing Train Journeys
The Beijing to Lhasa Express, China
Start: Beijing End: Lhasa
Distance: 2,330 miles Duration（时长）: 40 hours
Connecting Beijing with Lhasa, the Z21 train transports its passengers from a modern city to a mysterious land. What’s unusual is that the train climbs nearly 16,400 it on its journey to the roof of the world: the Tibetan plateau, where it passes yaks, flying prayer flags and snow—covered mountains.
The Reunification Express, Vietnam
Start: Hanoi End: Ho Chi Minh City
Distance: 1,072 miles Duration: two days
Some railways run through historic cities, others run beside beautiful coastline and a few are famous for the colorful characters on board. The Reunification Express meets all these conditions. It travels over a thousand miles from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. There’s no better way of exploring all the glories in between.
The California Zephyr, USA
Start: Chicago End: San Francisco
Distance: 2,438 miles Duration: 52 hrs 40 mins
As for appreciating the breathtaking scenery of the North American continent, nothing compares with Amtrak’s California Zephyr train. This journey travels nearly 2,500 miles across prairies, deserts, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada on its way.
London to Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper, UK
Start: London End: Fort William
Distance: 509 miles Duration: 13 hrs 30 mins
Starting from crowded central London to the dry and cold air and beautiful views of the Scottish Highlands through one overnight train journey is a perfect example of experiencing the romance（浪漫）of rail travel. It’s just a pity that the whole experience—from delicious foods and drinks to being taken into la-la land—feels like it’s over very quickly.
1. What makes The Beijing to Lhasa Express special?| A．It lasts the longest time. | B．It covers the longest distance. |
| C．It passes through national borders. | D．It runs on the highest rail line in the world. |
| A．The Beijing to Lhasa Express. |
| B．The Reunification Express. |
| C．The California Zephyr. |
| D．London to Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper. |
| A．It’s often crowded. | B．It’s a relatively short journey. |
| C．It travels at the slowest speed. | D．It offers free meals to passengers. |
10 . From grand museum openings to music, art and theatre, these are the coolest new things happening anywhere this year.
Look around an odd star's living room
Paris, France
This townhouse, where the controversial French singer Serge Gainsbourg spent the last 20 years of his life, has been completely closed off to the public since Gainsbourg's death in 1991, but next spring it'll finally open as a museum. The main attraction will be Serge's famously odd living area, with its huge collection of sculptures.
Get lost in the world of Hans Christian Andersen
Odense, Denmark
Just 90 minutes by train from Copenhagen, Odense is best known as the birthplace of Christian Andersen, and it's now home to the new HCA Museum. With its biographical exhibits and inanimate projects that come alive, this thoroughly fun museum would have delighted the “Little Mermaid” and “Snow Queen” author himself.
Check out King Tut's enormous new pad
Giza, Egypt
When it finally opens in November 2022, the Grand Egypt Museum will be the biggest museum in the world for a single civilization. Costing $1 billion, this museum will be about the size of the Louvre in Paris. Most importantly, this will be the first time that all 5,000 pieces of King Tut's treasure will be displayed in the same place.
Discover a cultural jewel at the heart of Europe
Novi Sad, Serbia
Serbia's second-largest city will wear the crown of European Capital of Culture for the year. Ever fancied checking out of an exhibition in an abandoned pasta factory? The Mlin Cultural Station awaits. Novi Sad's unique architecture and history have long made it a major destination.
1. Which place can you go to take a dip into literature?| A．Paris in France. | B．Giza in Egypt. |
| C．Odense in Denmark. | D．Novi Sad in Serbia. |
| A．It will be the biggest museum worldwide. |
| B．It will be bigger than the Louvre in France. |
| C．It will be open again since its close in 1991. |
| D．It will exhibit 5,000 pieces of King Tut's wealth. |
| A．The Mlin Cultural Station. | B．The HCA Museum. |
| C．The Grand Egypt Museum. | D．Serge Gainsbourg's Museum. |
