1 . Shakespeare’s writing shaped our modern language, but how did his plays describe the landscape of 15th- and 16th-century Britain? This guide will take you on a mini tour of the poet’s favoured locations.

Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire

In its prime, Pontefract Castle was one of the most powerful forts (堡垒) in Europe, but its fearful reputation was once so strong that the poet used it to suggest power and terror. In Richard II, Pontefract is the terrible scene of the king’s murder and three men are condemned to death at the castle in Richard III. Now, Pontefract is the perfect destination for a fearful yet fascinating day out.

Sandal Castle, West Yorkshire

First built from wood in the 12th century, by the 13th century Sandal Castle had become an impressive stone forts. In the 15th century, the castle found itself at the centre of a long and bloody battle. It was this conflict that inspired Shakespeare’s Henry VI. The site of the battlefield is now a peaceful farm and all that remains of the once grand castle are broken walls.

Dunsinane Hill, Perthshire

A castle built atop Dunsinane Hill in Scotland is one of the dramatic backdrops to the blood-soaked horror of Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, Macbeth. Today, the hill has the remains of two forts, one of which is the site on which the real Macbeth suffered a military defeat in 1054.

Forest of Arden, Warwickshire

Situated in Shakespeare’s home county of Warwickshire, Arden was once a heavily wooded area and provides the complex setting for the poet’s pastoral comedy. Visitors can enjoy several picturesque walks around the young forest, which is now home to over a million new trees.

1. What did Shakespeare use Pontefract Castle to stand for?

A．Hope and anger.

B．Life and death.

C．Power and fear.

D．Past and history.

2. What is Shakespeare’s inspiration for Henry VI?

A．The surroundings of Sandal Castle.	B．A long battle happening at Sandal Castle.
C．The impressive buildings of Sandal Castle.	D．Shakespeare’s preference for Sandal Castle.

3. Where was Shakespeare born?

A．In Yorkshire.

B．In West Yorkshire.

C．In Perthshire.

D．In Warwickshire.

2 . We have scenic beauty all around us, but looking around, much of it is covered with food packages, plastic bottles, and other rubbish. Despite warning signs and boards that constantly say “No littering here!”, people are unwilling to understand the significance of keeping public places clean. However, Khao Yai National Park in Thailand has taken an unusual step to make sure tourists clean up their own trash.

The park has begun sending trash back to the litterbugs (乱扔垃圾者) with a polite note saying “You forgot these things at Khao Yai National Park” to remind people that littering in public places is against the rules. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, posted a series of pictures on Facebook related with the new step. He posted a picture of a trash-filled box that was ready to be shipped with the words—“YOUR TRASH—WE’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.”

Varawut explained that throwing about trash could endanger wild animals, which might eat it by mistake when searching for food. He said littering in the park could carry a fine of up to 500,000 Thai Baht (about $16,000 U.S. dollars), a prison sentence of up to five years, or both. And the offending (违法的) visitors will also be banned from returning to the park.

The officials matched the trash to its owners by taking address details from the camping equipment rental forms. To make the process easier, people will be allowed to enter the park only after writing down their address.

“We think Khao Yai National Park’s new step has made a great contribution to maintaining our country’s natural resources,” Charinya Kiatlapnachai, director of the tourism authority of Thailand, told The Washington Post. “This gesture is an effective way to ensure we all do our part to help our country remain clean, safe and beautiful.”

1. What is the new step of Khao Yai National Park to control littering?

A．Reporting litterbugs to the police.

B．Forcing litterbugs to clean up the park.

C．Posting photos of litterbugs on Facebook.

D．Warning and returning the litterbugs trash.

2. What punishment will litterbugs get if they litter in the park?

A．Their behavior will be exposed in social media.

B．They will not be allowed to visit the park again.

C．They could be charged up to 500,000 U.S. dollars.

D．They could be sentenced to over 5 years in prison.

3. How can officials find the owners of trash?

A．By referring to their rental forms.

B．By viewing cameras inside the park.

C．By matching finger prints on the trash.

D．By contacting them through email.

4. What does Charinya Kiatlapnachai think of Khao Yai National Park’s action?

A．Doubtful.

B．Supportive.

C．Objective.

D．Unclear.

3 . Some websites help make our travel easier! The following are some of them. You may find one very useful before you start your journey.

Home Exchange

You list your house on the site, find another house where you’d like to stay, and contact the house owner to see if he or she wants to exchange homes. This exchange system lets you live like a local in a comfortable house or apartment instead of a tiny and expensive hotel room. In addition, you needn’t pay any accommodation fees!

Tripadvisor

It is the biggest online community of travelers and also the first stop for vacation planners. Not only can you book flights, hotels, car rentals, and get tickets for scenery spots here, but you can also get reviews and tips from other travelers. The destination guides on Tripadvisor are often much better than the expensive guidebooks in a bookstore.

Yapta

Yapta stands for Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant. Yapta reminds you when the price for a particular flight drops. It can do it even after you purchase your tickets, giving you a chance to get a refund (退款) of the difference from the airline. If you prefer, Yapta will bargain (讨价还价) with the airline on your behalf for a $15 fee.

Roomorama

Roomorama is a website for short-term rental website. With its large choice of house listings worldwide, you can find whichever house suits your needs. Whether you’re looking for a single bedroom or a large apartment, Roomorama has that all covered! It also provides a unique and secure payment system to keep your money secure. Roomorama can only hand over the payment code (密码) to the host until you check in.

1. Which website can help us find free accommodation?

A．Yapta.	B．Tripadvisor.
C．Home Exchange.	D．Roomorama.

2. What can vacation planners do on Tripadvisor?

A．Refer to other travelers’ tips.	B．Apply for a guidebook.
C．Rent a large apartment.	D．Get in touch with house owners.

3. What can we learn about Roomorama?

A．It helps its users bargain with the hosts.

B．It offers information on houses for sale.

C．It has a payment system similar to Yapta’s.

D．The hosts will get paid after guests check in.

4 . The Best Time To Visit Masai Mara

High season

Months: June, July, August, September & October

These are the best months to visit the Masai Mara as it is the long dry season with little or no rainfall. It is easy to spot animals as the bush is less thick and animals gather around available water sources and rivers. It is the best time to witness the Great Migration herds. Accommodation cost will also be high, and as this is the busiest period, so bookings in advance are essential!

Green season

Months: April, May & November

The long rains occur during April and May and short rains in November. Mornings are usually clear and dry, with clouds building into dramatic thunderstorms by late afternoon. A plus to travel during the green season is that fewer people are travelling, which means fewer people and low lodge(旅舍)prices. Some of the lodges and camps close down during these months.

Shoulder season

Months: December, January, February & March

These shoulder months are a time of transition(过渡). Temperatures start to fall off, and migratory birds move on. Animals start to gather in areas where they know there will be water. For birdwatchers they are the best months, as in addition to the resident species, migratory birds, coming here from Europe to spend the winter, are also present. January and February are the best months to witness the birth of wildebeest, zebra and antelope.

1. What is special about the high season?

A．It rains a lot.	B．Lodge prices are high.
C．More birds migrate here.	D．Many zebras are born.

2. When can you spend the least money travelling to Masai Mara?

A．In September.	B．In October.
C．In November.	D．In December.

3. What is the text?

A．A travel guide.

B．A news report.

C．A children’s story.

D．A diary entry.

5 . Do you want to see majestic lions roaring, rare rhinos running and colorful birds flying? You’ll find this incredible display of nature in the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley.

First stop

Fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This great city is known for its fashion markets and beautiful art. And be sure to pick up some rich Kenyan coffee while you’re there! Then head for the countryside.

Plan your trip

The largest of the three lakes in the system, Lake Nakuru, is less than 175 kilometers from Nairobi. But Lakes Bogoria and Elementaita are equally worth a visit. You can stay at one of several choices of luxurious cabins in the valley. And if you sign up for a trip, be sure to put flamingos, the white and pink birds, at the top of your list.

Paradise

The Kenya Lake System is shallow and alkaline (碱性的). That means it supports vegetation such as green algae, a food source for many waterfowl. Hundreds of species of birds flourish here, using this area as a major breeding and nesting ground. Water buffalo, leopards, monkeys and the endangered Rothschild giraffe also make this area their home.

Other sights

Wildlife isn’t the only natural wonder in the Great Rift Valley. The valley marks a place where the earth is divided far below the surface. This rock separation below ground leads to noticeable features above ground. Walking around Lake Bogoria especially, you will see steam rising from hot springs.

Other activities include golfing, horseback riding and hiking. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either. The river valley is far from city lights, so many visitors gaze at the stars shining above.

If you are ready for a wildlife experience, don’t hesitate!

1. Where can you buy fashionable gifts in Kenya?

A．Nairobi.

B．Lake Nakuru.

C．Lake Bogoria.

D．Lake Elementaita.

2. Which should be the first choice on your travelling list?

A．Living in a cabin.	B．Seeing flamingos.
C．Visiting hot springs.	D．Gazing at shining stars.

3. What can we learn about the Kenya Lake System?

A．It has countless lakes worth visiting.	B．It’s an ideal place for wildlife to live.
C．Its water is unsuitable for plant growth.	D．It’s famous for rich culture and history.

6 . I've always loved mountaineering (登山) and the mental and physical challenges that go with it. This time the peak (山峰) of Mt. Whitney is my ______. There are quite a few ways up to the big mountain, but we ______ the traditional one at last, almost 12 miles to the top.

I decided to make this trip less about ______ and more about the climb and my personal journey with a friend. Thinking about it this way, I decided to carry only one camera to ______ the course, but it still added 3.2 pounds to my backpack, which ______ 2.8 pounds without the camera equipment. Fortunately, climbing with a friend ______ sharing the weight, keeping our packs a little lighter. Therefore, we ______ reached the top just two days later. This particular trip was prepared for a personal trip on purpose to get to the peak and enjoy the breathtaking ______.

Climbing such tall peaks ______ every aspect of you, as a nature photographer. It can test both your physical strength and photographic ______. Can you imagine being 14,000 feet up, ______ the thin air of the high-altitude (海拔) environment while also trying to be ______ with your compositions (作品)? That’s what we were doing! And that’s the joy that comes with climbing Mt. Whitney as well.

Like any other ______ in nature, there are risks in mountaineering, though, Extreme altitude and the unpredictable (无法预测的) weather will test even the most ______ climber. Despite the fact, mountaineering for me is all about the experiences, which makes me live to the ______.

1.

A．imagination

B．impression

C．destination

D．kingdom

2.

A．chose

B．repaired

C．missed

D．covered

3.

A．shelters

B．photos

C．clothes

D．foods

4.

A．discover

B．draw

C．guess

D．document

5.

A．weighed

B．lifted

C．balanced

D．cut

6.

A．looked for

B．resulted from

C．contributed to

D．focused on

7.

A．suddenly

B．legally

C．obviously

D．quickly

8.

A．painting

B．scenery

C．performance

D．movement

9.

A．attracts

B．pays

C．tests

D．brings

10.

A．skills

B．attitudes

C．times

D．dreams

11.

A．identifying

B．improving

C．collecting

D．breathing

12.

A．confident

B．patient

C．familiar

D．creative

13.

A．secrets

B．adventures

C．rules

D．species

14.

A．excited

B．devoted

C．experienced

D．frightened

15.

A．longest

B．fullest

C．highest

D．farthest

7 . What do you think of when you hear the word Australia? Kangaroos and beaches? We’ve rounded up some top Aussie travel bloggers who have given us their trips about the best places to visit in Australia.

Blue Mountains

If you’re looking for a dose of nature, the Blue Mountains are for you. Make sure you have time to visit Wentworth Falls. This spot offers walks of varying difficulty with appealing views of the waterfall, and it’s just a short drive from the main event—The Three sisters. These famous rock formations are the highlight of this picturesque (如画的) postcard area. If you head to Echo Point, don’t miss the Science Railway—the steepest passenger railway in the world.

Sydney

Sydney is filled with beautiful beaches, fun activities and good food. One of the best ways to view the beauty of Sydney is by taking a relaxing walk. An amazing beach walk, and one of the best, is from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. It offers extremely pleasant views of the area’s famous rocky beach, thin beach and sandy beach.

Byron Bay

Byron is one of Australia’s top tourist destinations. From countless waterfalls and swimming holes to mountains and bushwalks, this small region hides so much beauty. I would suggest starting with a hike to the bottom of Minyon Falls for a swim, a hike to the top of Mt Warning for a sunrise, and then a hike to the Natural Arch. These are just some of the most accessible, but there is so much more if you’re willing to explore.

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast has become one of the most beautiful strips of coastland in Australia, long white beaches lined with health-conscious cafés and boutique clothes shops (精品服装店). When you aren’t absorbing the sunshine on one of the many beaches, you can head out to the hinterland (内陆地区) for a day of mountain hiking or discover the swimming holes and waterfalls with not a soul in sight.

1. It can be learned from the text that _______.

A．walking along various beaches is a good way to enjoy the scenery in Sydney

B．we can find swimming holes and waterfalls on the Blue Mountains

C．we can experience the steepest railway in Sydney

D．only Byron Bay is Australia’s best tourist destination

2. Where can visitors buy fashionable clothes in a boutique shop?

A．On Bondi Beach.

B．In Byron Bay.

C．In Sunshine Coast.

D．In Blue Mountains.

3. The text is probably taken from a _______.

A．geography document

B．science magazine

C．book review

D．travel blog