2 . It had been a long, hard, wonderful day. The two of us had walked from the sea’s edge through the length of a beautiful valley, climbed a superb mountain, travelled its narrow, rocky ridge, and now stood on its final peak, tired, happy and looking for the perfect campsite.

The experienced backpacker has a natural feeling for such things, and our eyes were drawn to a small blue circle on the map. We could not see it from where we were, but we followed our judgement and went down steeply until it came into view.

We were right. It was a calm pool, with flat grass beside it. Gently taking our packs off, we made the first of many cups of tea before putting up our tent. Later that evening, over another cup of tea and after a good meal, we sat outside the tent watching the sun set over a sea dotted with islands, towards one of which a ferry was slowly moving. It is not always so perfect, of course. On another trip, with a different companion, a thoroughly wet day had ended at a lonely farm. Depressed at the thought of camping, we had knocked and asked if we could use a barn as a shelter.

Backpacking could be defined us the art of comfortable, self-sufficient travel on foot. Everything you need is in the pack on your back, and you become emotionally as well as physically attached to it. I once left my pack hidden in some rocks while I made a long trip to a peak I particularly wanted to climb. I was away for nearly three hours and ended up running the last stretch in fear that my precious pack would not be there. It was, of course.

The speed at which the backpacker travels makes this the perfect way to see any country. You experience the landscape as a slow unfolding scene, almost in the way it was made；and you find time to stop and talk to people you meet. I’ve learned much local history from simply chatting to people I met while walking through an area. At the end of a trip, whether three days or three weeks, there’s a feeling of achievement, of having got somewhere under your own power.

1. The author and his companion knew there was a pool because ________

A．they had been told about it	B．they could see it on the map
C．they had seen it earlier in the day	D．they could see it from the top of the mountain

2. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The map.

B．The mountain.

C．The pool.

D．Rocky ridge.

3. How did the author and his companion feel at the end of the day?

A．They were too tired to put up their tent.

B．They wished they could have found a farm.

C．They were anxious about the coming weather.

D．They were delighted with the spot they had found.

4. What does the author mean by being “emotionally as well as physically attached to” his backpack in Paragraph 4?

A．It is more than just a practical aid.	B．He walks better when he is wearing it.
C．It is not a good idea to leave it anywhere.	D．He might die on the mountains without it.

5. According to the author, the main advantage of backpacking is that you can         .

A．get fitter as you walk	B．make new friends while walking
C．find out how the landscape was made	D．gain an understanding of the area you walk through

3 . As you are soon on your way to Eastern Europe, here are a few tips on what you should pack. In general, pack lightly, with only the most basic clothes. People dress casually in Eastern Europe, so you don't need to bring along your smartest clothing.

At the risk of going against our own advice by weighing down your luggage, we suggest you consider bringing along the following things, which we find particularly useful in Eastern Europe.

Batteries：If your camera，flash，or other appliances run on batteries，bring enough supply along. Certain types of batteries don't exist in Eastern Europe，and those that do often don't last very long.

Calculator: Many travelers find it useful to figure out foreign exchange rates on a calculator. We suggest a credit-card calculator which fits into your wallet or purse.

Cash: We have found it good to have supply of small-unit U.S. bills ($l and $5) to use in hard-currency stores, to buy international train tickets, etc. The hard-currency stores never seem to have the right change, and thus you may lose out without some “pretty cash”on hand.

Electric Current Adapter: If you bring any appliances, remember that the electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts A.C., not the standard 110 volts of North America. A 110 volts appliance will soon burn out when attached to an unchanged 220-volt plug. Get in touch with the Franzus Company, 352 Park Ave. South, New York, NY10010 (tel.212/889-5850), and ask for their booklet, "Foreign Electricity Is No Dark Secret".

Language Tools: One of Europe's big challenges is communicating with the local people since their languages are so different from our own. To help overcome difficulties, you might buy phrasebooks before you go -you won't find them once you are. in Eastern Europe.

If you are interested in learning an Eastern European language in more detail, we recommend the tape course produced by Audio Forum. In each course you listen to native speakers on a tape and follow along in a textbook. You can ask Audio Forum for their catalog at 96 Broad St., Guiford, CT06437 (tel. toll free 800/243-1234).

Money Belt: A money belt is especially helpful when you have many documents to carry around (as you always do in Eastern Europe). The best one we find is made by Eagle Greek Travel Gear, 143 Cedros Ave. (P. O. box.651), Solona Beach, CA 92075 (tel. 6197755 -9399, or toll free 800/874-9925) outside California.

Traveler's Checks: These are necessary. Bring your traveler's checks in small to medium unit ($10, $20, or $50) to change a little bit at a time, so as not to be left with a lot of local money. To be on the safe side, be sure to copy down the check numbers in two places, just in case something happens to the checks.

1. Which of the following sections deal with money matters?

A．Cash & Money Belt

B．Money Belt & Calculator

C．Cash & Traveler's Checks

D．Calculator & Electric Current Adapter

2. Eagle Creek Travel Gear is a company producing ______.

A．calculators	B．tapes
C．electric current adapters	D．money belts

3. Which of the following is NOT a fact according to the passage?

A．No shop in Eastern Europe accepts hard currency.

B．Travelers may need to carry many documents in Eastern Europe.

C．The electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts A. C.

D．Eastern European languages can be a problem to foreign travelers.

4. Jane wants to learn Russian before going to Eastern Europe, she can______.

A．call 619/755-9399 for advice

B．ask for Franzus Company for a phrasebook

C．go to 96 Broad St, Guiford, for help

D．write to Solona Beach, CA 92075 for a textbook

5. This passage is probably taken from

A．an official notice	B．a traveler's guide
C．a holiday advertisement	D．immigration instructions

4 . The following is a list of museums that have new ways to develop creativity and spread knowledge.

The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

The museum is one of Madrid’s “Big Three” cultural institutions. Home to the world’s second largest private collection of art, it owns famous works from almost every art movement. Users can take a virtual (虚拟的）tour of the entire building or a thematic (主题的）tour covering such topics as food and fashion.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Seoul

Since it opened its doors in 2013, MMCA has become a well-known cultural platform and leader in Korean art. With the help of Google Arts and Culture, MMCA is now offering a virtual tour of its collections. This experience takes visitors through six floors of modern and contemporary art from Korea and around the world.

The Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House, set up in 1957 in Amsterdam, tries to inform the public through educational programs and tours of the building where Anne and her family hid during World War II. To explore deeper into the story described in Anne9s diary, online visitors can watch videos about her life and look around the house where she lived before going into hiding.

The Vatican Museums

They are the public art and sculpture museums in the Vatican City. They exhibit works from the large collection collected by the Popes (教皇）throughout the centuries, including several of the most famous Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance (文艺复兴） art in the world. Virtual visitors can tour seven different sections of the complex, enjoying 360-degree views of the Sistine Chapel, perhaps best known for Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment fresco (壁画).

1. At which museum can visitors gain knowledge of art movements?

A．The Vatican Museums.

B．The Anne Frank House.

C．The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

D．The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

2. What does MMCA’s collection focus on?

A．Works of famous Roman artists.

B．Modem and contemporary art.

C．Public educational programs.

D．Google Arts and Culture.

3. What is special about the Anne Frank House?

A．It was built during World War II.

B．It has the largest private collections.

C．It is the oldest museum about the war.

D．It tells the story of a World War II victim.

4. What can tourists do in The Vatican Museums?

A．Learn to create sculptures.

B．Enjoy a specific thematic tour.

C．Watch videos about the Popes’ life.

D．Appreciate Michelangelo’s artworks.

5. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To introduce museums with virtual tours.

B．To appeal to people to visit museums in the flesh.

C．To show people ways of appreciating works of art.

D．To advise museums to perfect visitors’ experience.

8 . The whale, as big as a locomotive (火车头), jumped out of the water, spinning (旋转) as though for joy, before jumping back under the waves. We watched silently in astonishment, never having been so close to such a huge, fast-moving creature. It seemed almost possible to count the small shellfish on the whale's skin.

In early December, gray whales, blue whales, and others had just started heading around the tip of Baja California, Mexico, moving as a community from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Cortez. It's in that protected waterway that pregnant whales give birth to their babies. Other whale babies, born the year before, could be seen sailing behind. All whale babies get two trips like this with their mom before they're ready to start having babies of their own and making the journey on their own.

We're in one of several small powerboats, sent out by ScubaCaribe, which carries on such tours in Cabo San Lucas, the whales seemed to be, at times, less than 100 feet from our boat when they rushed out of the water. At other times, they would get much closer and swim beside the boat.

“What if one lands on us?” a woman next to me wondered. Fernando Del Toro, the Destination Manager of ScubaCaribe said, “We haven't had any incidents (事件) of whales jumping over our boats as we always keep our distance. We're sure they themselves are probably careful not to crash into boats. Such an accident would probably also cause them much harm.”

“Everyone can enjoy this magical trip,” said Del Toro. “However, we do not recommend (推荐) it for kids under 5 years old,” he added.

Though conditions on the water vary, our trip was wonderful. Even when the boat sped up to catch up with the whales, there was little need to “hang on”, and some of us remained standing throughout most of the trip. Still, you may want to pack medicine for those who might get seasick while bouncing (颠簸行进) along the waves.

1. How does the author start the text?

A．By telling a story.	B．By asking questions.
C．By describing a scene.	D．By giving background information.

2. How did the author feel when seeing the jumping whales?

A．Proud.

B．Worried.

C．Amazed.

D．Discouraged.

3. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．A description of the author's journey.	B．A list of best places for whale-watching.
C．An introduction to the travelling of whales.	D．A suggestion on taking a whale-watching tour.

4. What does Del Toro say about whale-watching?

A．It is suitable for all ages.	B．It is much too dangerous.
C．It may cause serious damage to wildlife.	D．It should be done from a proper distance.

5. How was the author's trip?

A．It was smooth.	B．It was exhausting.
C．It was destroyed by a storm.	D．It was terrible due to his seasickness.

9 . Nature has inspired many of the most fascination designs around us, including those in architecture. From Barcelona’s forest-like Sagrada Familia to the modern style of Beijing’s Water Cube, nature is presented in various architectural designs. Today, architects continue to explore ways to capture the beauty of natural forms, to mimic (模仿) the way nature works or even to make natural organisms part of a building.

ArtScience Museum, Singapore

ArtScience Museum was designed to show the connection between nature and the modern city environment in which it sits. Shaped to resemble a lotus flower, it appears to float above the waterfront promenade and the water that surrounds it. Its roof collects rainwater and channels it 35 metres down to a waterfall in the centre of the space. The water is then recycled through the building’s plumbing system. Visitors are often amazed to find themselves in an urban building that so truly captures the beauty of natural forms.

The Eastgate Centre, Harare

Harare’s Eastgate Centre is a superb example of biomimicry (生物仿生). To use biomimicry is to create structures based on natural forms and processes. Zimbabwean architect Mick Pearce was inspired to create the Centre while watching a nature documentary in which termites (白蚁) were constructing their nests. The insects built mounds covered in little holes designed to allow air to move freely in and out of the mounds. In a similar way, the Eastgate Centre has a “skin” covered in holes. During the day, warm air is drawn into the building through the holes, cooling as it reaches the middle of the building. At night, the heat absorbed by the wall during the day warms the cool air, creating a comfortable temperature inside. The design reduces the need for traditional air conditioning and heating systems, so the building uses less energy and costs less to run.

The Algae (藻类) House, Hamburg

The world’s first algae-powered building is in Hamburg, Germany. The surface of the apartment building is covered in panels that contain algae. The algae are fed with liquid nutrients and carbon dioxide to encourage them to grow. In bright sunshine, they grow faster and proved shade. The panels also capture heat from the sun and convert it into energy that powers the building. And that’s not all—the algae inside the panels can be harvested and used to produce fuel. The building therefore not only responds to its environment and uses less energy, but also reduces damage to the environment by generating its own renewable energy.

1. What is the author’s purpose in writing the message?

A．To introduce three biomimicry architects.

B．To show how nature fits into architecture.

C．To tell us how to use less energy and do less damage to the environment.

D．To show some buildings of the future.

2. What could be inferred from Paragraph 2?

A．ArtScience Museum looks like a flower.

B．The waterfall in the center of the space is formed naturally.

C．While in the building, visitors always find themselves in urban areas.

D．ArtScience Museum was designed to collect rainwater.

3. What can we learn about Harare’s Eastgate Centre?

A．It was built according to the forms and processes of nature.

B．It is shaped like a termite nest.

C．Its design relics on traditional air conditioning and beating systems.

D．Without those holes, the building wouldn’t work.

4. Which of the following statement is NOT true about the Algae House?

A．The algae need to feed/

B．The algae can be used to produce fuel/

C．It’s the only algae-powered building in the world.

D．Panels containing algae cover the surface of the apartment.

5. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Nature in architecture

B．The development of architecture

C．Charm of biomimicry

D．In harmony with the building

10 . Let's, learn about some. of the most interesting abandoned settlements, from ancient ruins to modern ghost towns.

Angamuco, Mexico

The, city of Angamuco in North, America, built around AD 900, is thought to have had 100, 000 citizens and included pyramids, road systems, vegetable gardens and ball courts. It was a major centre for the Purepecha, competitors to the Aztec peoples. Both of their cultures were destroyed in the. 16^th century, when Europeans introduced bad disease there.

Termessos, Turkey

A lexander the Great once compared this great city — located 1, 000 metres up a mountain — to an eagle's nest. And despite surrounding it in 333 BC, he failed to take it. The most famous site of this city was a Roman - style theatre. The city was abandoned around 200 AD because of a big earthquake.

Gedi, Kenya

Lying on the. Indian Ocean coast, among thick forests, this settlement is thought to have been founded around the 13^th century. Gedi had running water and flushing toilets. Scientists have also found vases from the Ming Dynasty and Venetian glass on the site. Its abandonment several centuries later still remains a secret.

Mohenjo - daro, Pakistan

Founded around 2500 BC, this Indus Valley city had a street system and a complex drainage (排水) system. The city developed successfully, with up to 40, 000 settlers living off the floodplain which was rich in good soil, and traded with Mesopotamia. However, the cause of its decline from 1900Be still puzzles scientists today.

Pripyat, Ukraine

After reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl, exploded in, April 1986, giving off deadly radiations into the atmosphere, several nearby settlements were moved elsewhere. Among them was Pripyat, once a city built to, house nuclear workers. Three decades later, this place has been repopulated by deer, wolves and other animals. You can now. tour, the town and get a radiation screening when you leave,

1. What can we know about Angamuco, Mexico?

A．It once had a great civilization.

B．It was attacked by Europeans.

C．It had a history of over 1, 500 years.

D．It was destroyed by the Aztec people.

2. Alexander's comparing Termessos to an eagle's nest showed that ________ .

A．it was too hard to seize Termessos

B．Termessos was built in a secret place

C．Termessos was a place in great danger

D．it could only be destroyed by an earthquake

3. What did Gedi and Mohenjo - daro have in common?

A．The, same geographic characteristics.

B．The unknown cause of the abandonment.

C．The benefits gained from the floodplain.

D．The advanced toilets similar to modern ones.

4. What can we see in Pripyat now according to the passage?

A．Settlers in the area.	B．Deadly radiation.
C．Nuclear workers.	D．Certain kinds of wildlife.

5. Which of the ancient cities most probably had connection to ancient China?

A．Angamuco, Mexico.	B．Termessos, Turkey.
C．Gedi, Kenya.	D．Pripyat, Ukraine.