Li Daiyu and her cousin Liu Qian went to Canada to visit their cousins in Halifax on the Atlantic coast. Rather than travel by commercial airline all the way, they decided to fly to Vancouver and then take the train. For both of them, the thought of crossing the whole country by rail was exciting.
Before starting out, they spent a couple of days in Vancouver, seeing the sights. During their first day, as is typical of Vancouver, it rained. Despite the weather, they were able to take a boat ride out into the bay, and later visit an island that had wonderful shops selling crafts and antiques. The next day was clear and mild, and they were pleased to see the beautiful mountains looking out over the city. Later, they took a pleasant hike in a forest just a short distance away.
The next morning, the two girls arose early to take the train to Lake Louise, passing through the Canadian Rockies. Seen from the train window, the mountains and forests of Canada looked massive. When the train arrived at the station, they took a taxi to Lake Louise, where the blue water literally took their breath away with its exceptional beauty. They spent the night, and then took a coach bound north through the Canadian Rockies to Jasper. Looking at the beautiful scenery, they both agreed that it was the most awesome journey they had ever taken. In addition to seeing spectacular mountain peaksand forests, one highlight of their trip was being able to see many different creatures, including deer, mountain goats, and even a grizzly bear and an eagle.
From Jasper, they caught the train towards Toronto. One of the train’s first stops was in Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta, the centre of Canada’s huge oil and gas drilling industry. Edmonton is freezing cold in winter, with daily temperatures averaging -10˚C. Since it
can be too cold to go outdoors, Edmonton is home to many shopping malls. In fact, one of thelargest shopping malls in North America is in Edmonton.
From Edmonton, the train headed southeast across the great Canadian Prairie. At school, Daiyu and Liu Qian had learnt that Canada’s population is only slightly over thirty-seven million. However, they did not anticipate seeing such an open country, and were truly amazed. They went through two wheat-growing provinces, where they saw a bunch of farms that covered a very large area.
After another day on the train, eventually they were back in an urban area, the city of Winnipeg. From there, they travelled through the night, and woke up in Ontario—a land of forests and lakes. The train thundered on, through the rolling hills. The bushes and maple trees outside their windows were red, gold, and orange, and there was frost on the ground, confirming that autumn had arrived in Canada. Night came again, and the train turned south towards Toronto. When they woke up the next morning and pulled back the curtains, they could see the wide stretch of Lake Huron—one of the four Great Lakes on Ontario’s southern border. It was not until 9:30 a.m. that they finally reached the capital of Ontario, Toronto. All in all, their trip from Vancouver to Toronto had taken a duration of four days.
Are you thinking about traveling alone? You must have a million questions: What should be the first destination? Will there be someone to talk to? How can it be safe? In fact, travelling alone is not as scary as it seems. Here are some good tips.
It is true that traveling alone for the first time is more about the experience than the destination. So choose a place that you feel comfortable with. It could be somewhere close to home or somewhere you have been with your friends.
This can make you less nervous when you’re travelling alone for the first time. Besides, when you book your hotel, ask if they will send a driver to pick you up.
Talk to people
If you’re going to a tourist place like Thailand, there are lots of other people who are traveling alone. Most likely, they’ll be easy to talk to and they’ll want to communicate. They might also ask you to join them for dinner or a beer. That happens a lot.
Your family and friends love you and probably worry about you every day, so text them and let them know what you’re up to throughout your trip. That will make you and them feel safer. And in case something did happen, they’ll know where you are.
A. Book hotels ahead of time.
B. Choose a safe and comfortable place.
C. Let someone know where you are.
D. Find your own way of traveling.
Experience the iconic features of Australia
25 Sep
Next week I’m travelling to Australia to visit a friend there over the school holidays. I plan to keep this blog to record my experiences and what I learn. I have already done some research on the country. Located to the south of the equator, below many other countries on the globe, it’s often informally referred to as “down under”.
I have also read about some iconic sites, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Great Ocean Road, and animals like the cute koalas and kangaroos. I can’t wait to see all of them! However, as I major insocial studies, I’m more interested in meeting people in Australia and experiencing their culture, food, and way of life.
1 Oct
I’m here in Sydney! Since I arrived, my friend has brought me to my first openair barbecue and has also shared many different but yummy meals with me, so my first impressions of Australia have been all about food! A lot of typical Australian food, such as the Sunday roast, is originally British. Bakeries, fastfood joints, butcher shops, cafes, and restaurants everywhere provide some of the premier food experiences in the world. The influence of Asian cultures, on the other hand, led to the introduction of bean curd and Asian herbs, along with Australian versions of foods like the Chineseinspired dim sim.
3 Oct
My friend and I have arrived in Katherine, a town in Australia’s Northern Territory. We’re here to learn about the life and customs of the Aborigines，who are native to Australia. The Aboriginal population might be small, but its influence is still visible. For example, “Bondi” in “Bondi Beach” is an Aboriginal word meaning “water breaking over rocks”.
To survive in this vast land on the ocean, the Aborigines had to be in close contact with nature. This shows in their music, too, which celebrates the natural world and the spiritual world around them. Most of their musical instruments are really just sticks found on the ground, among which there is an amazing instrument called the didgeridoo.
The didgeridoo is made from a tree branch which is hollow. To play the didgeridoo, you put your mouth on one end and blow while vibrating your lips. Unlike a horn, there are no finger holes. The didgeridoo player has to change the shape of his mouth in order to change pitch. A skilled player can play for a long time without stopping to breathe. He does this by continually breathing in through his nose while breathing out through his mouth and into the didgeridoo. I tried to learn how to play it, but after trying for hours, I was convinced that I could never make a musical sound with this instrument!
6 Oct
It’s almost time for me to say goodbye to Australia. I’ve enjoyed my time here very much. After being here for a while, my biggest impression is the complicated mix of peoples and cultures that make up the nation. Although the main cultural influence since 1788 has been Western culture, minority cultures have also played a part in shaping the unique Australian culture, with many of the new cultural influences contributed by immigrants. It is said that now nearly half of all Australian citizens were either born overseas or have parents who were born overseas.
Personally speaking, what I like most about Australia is the people themselves. They have a straightforward and freeandeasy attitude towards life, and their friendliness and warmth made me feel at home wherever I went.
After experiencing Australia, I have to say that I agree with the tourism slogan: “There’s nothing like Australia.”
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The author’s impression of the food and music of Australia. |
| B．The author’s experiences in Australia. |
| C．The author’s impression of the people and culture of Australia. |
| D．The author’s impression of the attractions of Australia. |
| A．First impressions on Australia. B．Preparations before going to Australia. C．Reflections on multiculturalism. D．The culture of Aborigines. |
Blog entry 3
3. What does the phrase “down under” mean?
| A．Australia is surrounded by oceans. |
| B．Australia lies to the south of the equator. |
| C．Australia will be swallowed by rising sea water. |
| D．Australia has a lower ground level than other countries. |
| A．Love. | B．Nature. |
| C．History. | D．Food. |
| A．By changing his mouth shapes. |
| B．By breathing in more air. |
| C．By pressing the finger holes. |
| D．By closing his mouth tightly. |
| A．To show his disappointment at travelling. |
| B．To praise the effect of the advertising. |
| C．To remind visitors not to go to Australia. |
| D．To stress the beauty of Australia. |
Located to the south of the equator, below many other countries on the globe, Australia is often
A lot of typical Australian food originally comes from the UK. The influence of Asian cultures, on the other hand, resulted in the
The Aborigines are native to Australia. Their population might be small,
What impresses me most is the complicated mix of peoples and cultures. While the main cultural influence since
（1）Located to the south of the equator, below many other countries on the globe，it's often informally referred to as “down under”.
（2）To survive in this vast land on the ocean, the Aborigines bad to be in close contact with nature.
（3）Most of their musical instruments are really just sticks found on the ground, among which there is an amazing instrument called the didgeridoo.
1.杭州是一个理想的值得参观的地方；
2.杭州有西湖、龙井茶以及美食。
注意：1.词数80个左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Emma,
I’m writing in response to your letter. I strongly recommend you to visit Hangzhou.
Hangzhou,
Yours,
Li Hua
SEEING THE TRUE NORTH VIA RAIL: VANCOUVER AND THE HEART OF CANADA
Li Daiyu and her cousin Liu Qian went to Canada to visit their cousins in Halifax on the Atlantic coast. Rather than travel by commercial airline all the way, they decided to fly to Vancouver and then take the train.[1] For both of them, the thought of crossing the whole country by rail was exciting.
Before starting out, they spent a couple of days in Vancouver, seeing the sights. During their first day, as is typical of Vancouver, it rained. Despite the weather, they were able to take a boat ride out into the bay, and later visit an island that had wonderful shops selling crafts and antiques[3]. The next day was clear and mild, and they were pleased to see the beautiful mountains looking out over the city. Later, they took a pleasant hike in a forest just a short distance away.
The next morning, the two girls arose early to take the train to Lake Louise, passing through the Canadian Rockies. Seen from the train window, the mountains and forests of Canada looked massive. When the train arrived at the station, they took a taxi to Lake Louise, where the blue water literally took their breath away with its exceptional beauty. They spent the night, and then took a coach bound north through the Canadian Rockies to Jasper. Looking at the beautiful scenery, they both agreed that it was the most awesome journey they had ever taken. In addition to seeing spectacular mountain peaks and forests, one highlight of their trip was being able to see many different creatures, including deer, mountain goats, and even a grizzly bear and an eagle.
From Jasper, they caught the train towards Toronto. One of the train’s first stops was in Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta, the centre of Canada’s huge oil and gas drilling industry. Edmonton is freezing cold in winter, with daily temperatures averaging10℃. Since it can be too cold to go outdoors, Edmonton is home to many shopping malls. In fact, one of the largest shopping malls in North America is in Edmonton.
From Edmonton, the train headed southeast across the great Canadian Prairie. At school, Daiyu and Liu Qian had learnt that Canada’s population is only slightly over thirty-seven million. However, they did not anticipate seeing such an open country, and were truly amazed. They went through two wheat growing provinces, where they saw a bunch of farms that covered a very large area.
After another day on the train, eventually they were back in an urban area, the city of Winnipeg. From there, they travelled through the night, and woke up in Ontario — a land of forests and lakes. The train thundered on, through the rolling hills. The bushes and maple trees outside their windows were red, gold, and orange, and there was frost on the ground, confirming that autumn had arrived in Canada. Night came again, and the train turned south towards Toronto. When they woke up the next morning and pulled back the curtain, they could see the wide stretch of Lake Huron — one of the four Great Lakes on Ontario’s southern border. It was not until 9:30 a. m. that they finally reached the capital of Ontario, Toronto. All in all, their trip from Vancouver to Toronto had taken a duration of four days.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The trip from Vancouver to Toronto in Canada. |
| B．The beautiful scenery of Canada. |
| C．Canada is a good place for shopping. |
| D．Autumn is the best season in Canada. |
| A．65 | B．75 |
| C．85 | D．95 |
| A．Because they don’t have so much money. |
| B．Because they want to take the train to have a good view of Canada. |
| C．The aeroplane is so fast. |
| D．The distance from the west coast to the east isn't so long. |
| A．In Jasper. | B．In Lake Louise. |
| C．In Vancouver. | D．In Edmonton. |
| A．It often rains. |
| B．It is freezing cold in winter. |
| C．It is often sunny. |
| D．It is always like autumn. |
| Vancouver | → | Seeing the |
↓ | ↓ | |
| → | blue water | |
↓ | ↓ | |
| Jasper | → | Many different |
↓ | ↓ | |
| → | ||
↓ | ↓ | |
| Winnipeg | → | Ｘ |
↓ | ↓ | |
| Ontario | → | |
↓ | ↓ | |
| → | Capital of Ontario |
7. Analyse and translate the sentences.
①Despite the weather, they were able to take a boat ride out into the bay, and later visit an island that had wonderful shops selling crafts and antiques.
②When the train arrived at the station, they took a taxi to Lake Louise, where the bule water literally took their breath away with its exceptional beauty.
③They went through two wheat-growing provinces, where they saw a bunch of farms that covered a very large area.
7 . Here are some top tips for world travellers.
Travel light.
Transport sense. Don’t let go of your bags on the train. Keep them with you at all times. There are always thieves on public transport. If you want to sleep, tie your bag to your arm. When you take a taxi, it’s a good idea to ask for the driver’s permit. Many foreigners pay too much money because they take unofficial taxis.
| A．Be polite. |
| B．Keep your documents safe. |
| C．You should carry a spare bag. |
| D．Make sure your bag isn’t too heavy. |
8 . SAREK NATIONAL PARK—EUROPE’S
HIDDEN NATURAL TREASURE
1 A Summer Where the Sun Never Sleeps
I wake up to the sound of the wind buffeting the cloth of my tent. Even though the sun is brightly shining, telling whether it is morning or night is impossible. I’m above the Arctic Circle, where in summer the sun never sets. Checking my watch, I see that it is 7：30 a．m. I leave my tent and walk over to the mountain edge. Spreading out before me, branches of the Rapa River flow through the valley below. I’m in the remote far north of Sweden in Sarek National Park, a place with no roads or towns.
2 A Land of Mountains and Ice
Sarek’s mountains used to be covered by vast sheets of ice. Around 9, 000 years ago, this ice melted, leaving behind about 100 glaciers. Soon after, reindeer began to arrive. Following the reindeer were the Sami people, who made this territory their home. Getting here is quite difficult, so apart from the Sami very few people have ever seen Sarek.In 1909, Sarek was made a national park in order to keep the land in its natural state. Though the Sami are allowed to continue their traditional way of life in the park, no one else can live here, and all new development is banned within park boundaries. At the far side of the valley, an ancient Sami cottage is visible. Close by, there are a few reindeer feeding on grass.
3 Man at Peace with Nature
For hundreds of years, looking after reindeer was a way of life for the Sami. They used the reindeer’s meat for food, their bones for tools, and their skin for making clothes and tents. Since reindeer were always on the move, the Sami would pick up their tents and accompany them. Today, most Sami have houses in villages near Sarek and live a modern life just like their neighbours. But every spring, a small number of Sami still follow their reindeer into the valleys of Sarek, living in tents or old cottages and enjoying their traditions. I am not a Sami, but in Sarek I’ve adopted some of their habits. For example, this morning my breakfast is flat bread warmed over a fire, dried reindeer meat, and some sweet and sour berries that I found growing near my tent.
4 A Land of Adventure
After breakfast, I pack my bag and set out again. Since I must carry all of my food and supplies with me, my bag weighs about 30 kilograms. If today is anything like yesterday, it will be full of sweat and hard work as I hike over this difficult land to my destination on the other side of the valley. However, I cannot complain. Being in such a beautiful and wild place makes me feel blessed to be alive. Here I am, alone under this broad sky, breathing the fresh air, and enjoying this great adventure. What could be better?
1. Match the main idea with each paragraph.| A. A Land of Mountains and Ice B. Man at Peace with Nature C. A Land of Adventure D. A Summer Where the Sun Never Sleeps |
Para.3.
2. What is the text mainly about?
| A．The Arctic Circle. | B．The Sami people. |
| C．The reindeer. | D．A fascinating park. |
| A．12. | B．8. | C．24. | D．4. |
| A．transport | B．clothes | C．tools | D．food |
| A．Hard and annoyed. | B．Easy and relaxed. |
| C．Easy but depressed. | D．Hard but delighted. |
| A．a popular science article | B．a travel journal |
| C．a research report | D．a geographic magazine |
①However, I cannot complain.
②Being in such a beautiful and wild place makes me feel blessed to be alive.
③Here I am, alone under this broad sky, breathing the fresh air, and enjoying this great adventure.
8. 找出环境描写的句子
①
②
③
④
1. The man’s check-in time is 7:55 pm on Monday evening.
2. The man will arrange another meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
3. The man will be picked up at 9 am for the tour of the new factory.
4. The woman will phone for traveller’s checks.
5. The probable relationship between the speakers is husband and wife.
10 . The Imperial Palace, also called the Forbidden City was the palace where the 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China for roughly 500 years.
The Imperial Palace is located in the center of Beijing, on the northern side of Tian'anmen Square, rectangular (矩形的) in shape, 961 meters from north to south and 753 meters wide from east to west, with an area of 1,120,000 square meters. It's the world's largest and most complete palace made of wood in existence.
The Imperial Palace is divided into two parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer Court was the place where the emperors hosted royal ceremonies and handled the day-to-day affairs of the state, while the Inner Court was the living quarters for the emperors and their families. In 1987 the Imperial Palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Imperial Palace is surrounded by royal gardens. To the west lies Zhongnanhai, which serves as the central headquarters for the Communist Party of China. To the north-west lies Beihai Park, which also is a popular park. To the north lies Jingshan Park, also known as Coal Hill, where the last Ming emperor hanged himself as the rebel army overran his palace.
Today, Tian'anmen Gate in front of the Forbidden City is decorated with a portrait of Mao Zedong in the center and two placards (标语牌) to the left and right. The left placard reads “Long Live the People's Republic of China”, and the right placard reads “Long live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples”. The phrasing has great symbolic meaning, as the phrase “long live” was traditionally reserved for the emperors of China, but is now available to the common people. This is also true of the Forbidden City.
1. According to the passage, what makes the Imperial Palace stand out in the world?| A．It is a palace complex with a long history. |
| B．It witnessed 24 emperors working and living in it. |
| C．It is the largest and best preserved wooden palace. |
| D．It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
