1 . In the coming summer, we are gathering to enjoy the sun, beaches and so on. Now let’s get a knowledge of some beautiful island countries in the world.
The Philippines
One of the most beautiful and best island countries in the world is the Philippines. It’s actually a geographically wonderful place worth visiting at any time of the year. The Philippines contain over 7,000 islands, and all of them are beautiful and unique in their own way. There are many wonderful tourist attractions including the Tubbataha Reef, Mayon Volcano, Banaue Rice Terraces, Puerto Galera, Donsol, the Chocolate Hills and many more. The country also offers plenty of interesting activities for you to experience, such as diving, climbing, camping, hiking, bird watching.
Australia
Australia is an amazing continental island country, which everyone should visit at least once in life. It’s often identified as huge diverse country as it boasts a rich culture, fantastic wildlife, nice people, and a lot of fun and interesting things to see and to do. Australia has literally everything, from the spectacular beaches, canyons, to breathtaking green forests to explore.
Greece
Greece is a beautiful country, known for its long history and its clean beaches. The country consists of over 1,400 islands and islets, however only 169 of them are actually inhabited. These Greek islands are the most popular and visited Greek destinations, especially during the summer months. Mykonos island, Santorini island, Crete island, Corfu island are among the best Greek islands to visit. If you’re a history fan, there are many archaeological and historical sites you can visit in Greece, which wonderfully describe the past of the country.
Cuba
Unfortunately, few people even think of visiting Cuba these days. However, Cuba is a charming island country that boasts the clear blue waters, the white sandy beaches, the best coral reefs in the world, the small shops and numerous attractions. This country has a rich culture and history to explore. And if you like to dive or snorkel, Cuba should be one on your travel bucket list. Cuba is close to North America, so why not visit it this year?
1. Which country is fit for people to sightsee throughout the year?| A．Australia. | B．Cuba. |
| C．The Philippines. | D．Greece. |
| A．You can go diving, climbing, camping and exploring history in the Philippines. |
| B．Australia boasts fantastic wildlife and the best coral reefs in the world. |
| C．Spring is the best season for people to visit Greek islands. |
| D．Cuba is not a country for many people choosing to travel to. |
| A．Breathtaking green forests. | B．A rich culture. |
| C．Fantastic wildlife. | D．Archaeological sites. |
2 . The US has countless secret swimming holes throughout most states, many of which you’ve likely never heard of unless you’re from the area.
Havasu Falls (Arizona)
This attractive waterfall in the Grand Canyon is undoubtedly a destination spot requiring a 10-mile walk to the falls. You can take a guided tour to the falls, or make it on your own. The Havasu Falls is on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which means you’ll need to get a permit to visit — this has become increasingly difficult as more people discover this hidden place.
Hamilton Pool (Austin)
Hamilton Pool was created when an underground river’s roof fell down suddenly, exposing what is now the swimming hole and creating a 50-foot waterfall that flows over the above limestone (石灰岩). You’ll have to reserve beforehand to gain entry to the Hamilton Pool Preserve.
Chutes and Ladders (Maul)
To get to this secret swimming hole, you’ll have to grasp a rope and slide down the face of a cliff for 40 feet, and then climb down about 8 feet of lava rock to the pool. Once there, however, you’ll be glad you have made the journey. The swimming hole is on the edge of the ocean — a natural pool, you could say — with a depth that invites you to jump in without crowds of people around to watch.
Homestead Crater (Utah)
The Homestead Crater is hidden under a rock dome (穹顶) with an opening at the top that allows for sunlight and air. It was once only accessible by that top opening, but there is now easy access through a side path for visitors. Go for a swim in the beautiful mineral spring water.
1. Which of the following do you need an official written statement to visit?| A．Havasu Falls. | B．Hamilton Pool. |
| C．Chutes and Ladders. | D．Homestead Crater. |
| A．A tour guide. | B．An invitation. |
| C．More outdoor skills. | D．A reservation in advance. |
| A．They are hidden in some areas. | B．They are shaped by limestone. |
| C．They are created by local people. | D．They are accessible through a hole. |
The Xi’an City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived China’s long history. It
We accessed the wall through the South Gate. The wall is 12 meters high and from here you can see streams of people moving inside and outside the City Wall.
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4 . Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs.
AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost £ 169. 15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room cost £ 118.15.
If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid--- or you're looking for a big event to pass your time--- check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category.
STAYAWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday.
Don't be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge's Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was £ 95.95 . A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was £ 75.75 . And at Farringdon, a double room cost just £ 62.95 .
LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Really central hotels in cities such as London. Edinburgh and Cardiff can cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As a choice consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen, where you can cook. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city centre buildings. A great example is the historic O'Neill Flat on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, available for £ 420 for five days in late September, with room for four adults.
GET ON A BIKE London’s "Boris bikes' have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programs that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs.
Among the smaller cities with their own programs are Newcastle (casual members pay around £ 1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or £5 per day).
1. The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may ________.| A．help travelers pass time |
| B．attract lots of travelers to the UK |
| C．allow travelers to make flexible plans |
| D．cause travelers to pay more for accommodation |
| A．a hotel away from the train station | B．the tube line to Covent Garden |
| C．an ideal holiday destination | D．the name of a travel agency |
| A．lies on the ground floor |
| B．is located in central London |
| C．provides cooking facilities for tourists |
| D．costs over £100 on average per day in late September |
| A．half an hour | B．one hour |
| C．one hour and a half | D．two hours |
| A．to tell visitors how to book in advance |
| B．to supply visitors with hotel information |
| C．to show visitors the importance of self-help |
| D．to offer visitors some money-saving tips |
5 . 4 World Heritage (遗产)Sites in China
The Temple of Heaven
Located in the southern part of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is a magnificent complex (综合建筑群) of fine cultural buildings set in gardens. The sacred (神圣的) place served as a complex of sacrificial (献祭的) buildings for the Ming and Qing emperors, and is the largest one in Beijing among several royal altars (神坛) to Heaven, Earth, the Sun , the Moon and other symbolic forces of nature. It symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven --- the human world and God’s world --- which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony (宇宙进化论).
Mogao Caves
Located on south-east of the Dunhuang oasis, Gansu province, the Mogao caves, also known as the Thousand-Buddha Caves, are the world’s largest and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art. According to historical records, the carving of the caves started in 366 AD and continued for about 1000 years. The 492 well-preserved cells and cave sanctuaries (内殿)in Mogao, housing about 45000 square meters of murals (壁画)and more than 2000 painted sculptures (雕塑), are well-known for their statues (雕像)and wall paintings.
Fujian tulou
Fujian tulou consists of (is made up of) 46 buildings constructed (built) between the 15th and 20th centuries. Several stories high, the earthen houses were built along an inward-looking , circular(圆形的) or square floor plan as housing for up to 800 people each. They were built for defense(防御) purposes around a central open courtyard (庭院)with only one entrance and windows to the outside only above the first floor. Housing a whole clan (家族), the houses functioned as village units and were known as “ a little kingdom for the family”.
The Leshan Giant Buddha
The Leshan Giant Buddha is said to be the biggest Buddha statue in the world. The way in which the cultural features (特色) have been integrated (成为一体)with the natural scenery is considered to be a precious legacy (遗产).The Giant Buddha statue, carved on the mountain, stands 71m high, with its back against Mount Jiuding. There are more than 90 stone carvings and Buddha shrines (神坛)on both sides of the Giant Buddha.
1. Which of the following served as a sacrificial place in the past ?| A．Fujian tulou. | B．Mogao. |
| C．The Temple of Heaven. | D．The Leshan Giant Buddha. |
| A．They are several stories high. |
| B．They can hold hundreds of people. |
| C．They have windows on the first floor. |
| D．They have only one access to the outside. |
| A．They were both royal places. | B．They were both found in caves. |
| C．They are both religious resorts (名胜). | D．They both have historic murals. |
6 . Seal Island is a 200-meter-long island in South Africa, which is surrounded by 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit waters and covered with over 60,000 seals and some birds. This island has been home to many birds and seals. You may think this island is a paradise. In fact, the island is not famous for the seals or birds. However, the real stars are the great white sharks that leap out of the water to catch the seals they are hunting.
You may think that there is no way for a 15-foot long, 3,000-pound shark to hurl its body out of the water and catch a seal in midair. Actually, these sharks are called “Air Jaws”.
Over the years, the seals have gotten smarter. Now, they go out in groups of seven and eight to feed. They swim down on the sea floor, which gives them extra camouflage (掩饰). When they have to swim near the water surface, they swim in a zigzag (之字形的) pattern. But with all these tricks, they can still be outwitted (以智取胜) by the sharks. Usually, the sharks will take one seal away from its group and force it to swim on the surface, where it is easy to hunt. Sometimes, the seal is lucky and gets away, but most of them die in the process of trying to survive.
Every year, tourists go to see these amazing animals leap out of the water, sometimes flinging (抛) their whole bodies into the air when they want to catch the seals. Some people even want to go into shark cages to see the action from below! This is the reason why this island attracts thousands of tourists around the world every year.
1. What probably makes Seal Island famous?| A．The large number of seals in the water. |
| B．The way the great white sharks hunt. |
| C．The beautiful scenery of the island. |
| D．The special position of the island. |
| A．To save energy. |
| B．To warm themselves. |
| C．To look for food. |
| D．To avoid the white sharks. |
| A．White sharks are dangerous animals. |
| B．The seals are cleverer than the white sharks. |
| C．The sharks are successful in hunting the seals. |
| D．It is easier for the sharks to hunt the seals on the sea floor. |
| A．To explain why Seal Island is famous. |
| B．To show how white sharks hunt seals. |
| C．To advise us to visit Seal Island. |
| D．To ask us to protect animals. |
7 . If social distancing is driving you a little crazy, here are four world's most beautiful natural pools for you to get relaxed.
Devil's Pool
Victoria Falls in southeastern Africa measures 108 metres tall and more than 1676 metres wide. But for some brave people, the top of the Falls, known as Devil's Pool, is just another swimming hole. With water levels at their lowest from September to December, large numbers of swimmers adventure into the pool.
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Pool in Austin, U. S. , covers three acres and maintains a temperature of about 20 degrees year-round. Admission to the 5-metre deep pool ranges from midMarch until the end of September. For local residents （居民）,the cost is $ 3 for adults and $ 1 for kids under 8 （non-residents pay $ 8 for adults and $ 3 for kids under 8）.
Bondi Icebergs Public Pool
A 15-minute drive from Sydney's CBD sits the Bondi Baths at Bondi Icebergs. The historic 50-metre public saltwater pool has been around for more than a century and features a small beach, where you can enjoy the sunshine. The entrance cost （ $ 7 for adults； $ 5 for kids） isn't much considering the million-dollar view.
Dudu Blue Lagoon
Want to float （漂浮）in a quiet 30-metre-deep freshwater pool? Then check out Dudu Blue Lagoon on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. The lagoon also features underwater caves, making it a popular diving destination.
1. When is a good time to swim in Devil's Pool?| A．March. | B．June. | C．August. | D．October. |
| A．$7. | B．$9. | C．$19, | D．$24. |
| A．Sunbathe on the beach. | B．Float in a saltwater pool. |
| C．Have a good view of the waterfall. | D．Dive into the underwater caves. |
8 . Germans have a word “wanderlust” which translated into English would be “the desire to wander”. Nowadays the chance to travel is endless. Thanks to cheap air tickets, travelling abroad is very easy and sometimes it's even cheaper to fly out of the country than to travel within your own. So, yes, travelling is cheap but there have to be other reasons to travel and you're right. There are plenty of reasons!
I have always had this feeling of wanderlust. It started from me wanting to explore my local woods at the back of my garden as a young girl and as I have grown, so has my sense of adventure. And I found my local woods being replaced with the Brazil wetland, Pantanal, where I went last summer in search of jaguars, snakes and crocodiles. The thing with travelling is that it's always different. Even if you went to the same country, to the same town and stayed in exactly the same hotel, it would be a completely different experience. The people you meet will be different, and they will tell you their own travelling stories: stories of holiday romances, holiday worries and stories that seem so outrageous that you can hardly believe them until something similar happens to you.
Or maybe the difference is you? Maybe you have changed since last time you were there? And that's the thing with travelling—it changes you. When you travel you are forced to experience a new culture. Whether it's eating a guinea pig, or staying with a family where neither of you speak a common language and you have to communicate through hand actions and smiles, the experience gives me itchy feet to do it all again. And although wanderlust is a German word, the English idiom “to have itchy feet” has a similar idea. Someone who has itchy feet needs to leave or travel. This desire to explore is found not only in language but in us.
1. According to Paragraph 2, what is the most important part of travelling?| A．Having different experiences. |
| B．Hearing many travelling stories. |
| C．Experiencing holiday romances. |
| D．Taking more adventures. |
| A．interesting | B．surprising | C．moving | D．disappointing |
| A．Staying with a family without common languages. |
| B．Communicating through hand actions and smiles. |
| C．Eating a guinea pig with a family. |
| D．Experiencing a different culture. |
| A．give various reasons for travelling |
| B．encourage people to travel abroad |
| C．explain the German word “wanderlust” |
| D．share the writer's travelling experiences |
1. What do we know about the Climbing Center?
| A．It was started in 1952 by a mountaineer. |
| B．It runs courses from March to November. |
| C．It doesn’t provide accommodation in winter. |
| A．Low. | B．Reasonable. | C．High. |
| A．Predict the weather. | B．Read a map. | C．Set up a tent. |
| A．Seeing films. | B．Reading books. | C．Playing table tennis. |
10 . When leaving school, I was pleased that my exam results meant that I could study engineering at university. But I also wanted to travel before starting my course. A friend of mine told me about the Schools Exploring Society, an organization which helps students take a gap year （a year between leaving school and going to college）. It has three foreign journeys a year, taking 16-20-year-olds on science and nature trips. I love being outdoors, and a mountaineering trip to Alaska was on offer. So I signed up immediately.
There was one problem, though. I had to raise a large amount of money for the trip. It was a big task, but I managed to make it. I washed cars, worked in a cafe and also sold off some of my old books, clothes and CDs. Then, just before starting out, I started worrying. Can I do this? Am I fit enough? What if I see a bear?
Seventy of us traveled to Alaska. The first two days after arrival were spent in a school hall preparing our equipment and five tons of food. Then we left for the beautiful Talkeetna Mountain. On the trip we dug paths and recognized plant species. Then we climbed a mountain that was over 6,000 feet high. It was tiring but exciting.
Looking back, a gap year was so right for me. I learned a lot about accepting other people for what they are. We had to help each other and it made me less selfish. My gap year has also made me more able to concentrate. Now, whenever Tm worried about anything, I think I did Alaska-I can do this!
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that the author .| A．hadn’t taken foreign trips before |
| B．made the trip together with his friends |
| C．was not satisfied with his exam results |
| D．was going to study engineering at a college |
| A．His body was not strong. |
| B．He couldn’t afford the trip. |
| C．He had no outdoor experience. |
| D．He had little time to prepare for the trip. |
| A．was well worth it |
| B．got him interested in plants |
| C．made him fall behind others in study |
| D．helped him know more about himself |
| A．To explain how to prepare for trips. |
| B．To advise on how to spend a gap year. |
| C．To describe his experience in his gap year. |
| D．To encourage students to do part-time work. |
