3 . What’s the difference between travel and tourism? Well, being a traveller is _________ just being a holiday maker. A holiday is just a short time away, and it normally _________ relaxation. Tourists stay in holiday resorts, not travellers. Travellers go for the _________ and their journeys are usually much longer and more _________. For example, travellers always avoid tourist traps and like to go off the _________ track to discover new places. Travel is an age-old phenomenon, but tourism is a _________ recent invention. Thomas Cook is often described as the first travel _________ because he arranged the first “package tour”: a 19-kilometer trip for 500 people, in 1841.

Going overseas in order to experience a different way of life is _________ many people think of as travel, but travel does not necessarily _________ going abroad. How many people can __________ they have visited every part of their own country? Many people who live in __________ countries such as Russia and the USA have only visited a small part of their own country. And so __________ travel is also very exciting. It’s a surprising fact that 75 percent of US citizens do not __________ a passport, so travelling does not mean leaving their country for them.

Some people can’t travel or don’t like the __________ reality of travelling to faraway __________. These days it is easy to be an “armchair traveller”. People can visit distant __________ of the world or even little known parts of their own country __________ leaving their living room. Television documentaries make the world a small place and some people __________ that travel is no longer necessary. Perhaps soon people will use interactive computer programmes and virtual travel will become __________. Enthusiasts argue that by doing this we will have all the benefits without the __________.

4 . Choosing the most beautiful ski resort in the Alps is like picking the prettiest diamond. With white peaks and sparkling snow, the following 4 European treasures will spark instant alpine urges.

1. Saas-Fee, Switzerland

Unique selling points: High-mountain setting, in-your-face glaciers.

Saas-Fee hit the right notes as the setting for Wham!'s "Last Christmas" music video in 1984. It's a pleasing Swiss village among glaciers and mountains. Fabled 4,000-meter peaks such as the Dom, the Taschhorn and the Alphubel dot the skyline.

Worth the trip: For you to rub shoulders with real mountaineers, the Britannia Hutte is a climbers' refuge, just 15 minutes walk from the nearest lift. A simple lunch on its sunny balcony offers grand views.

Britannia Hutte, 3906 Saas Fee, Switzerland; +41 27 966 81 00

2. Alpbach, Austria

Unique selling points: Cute houses, the bygone feel.

Alpbach has long known what its best features are and made a point of highlighting them. The medieval village's traditional wooden farmhouses proved to be head-turners for early tourists and planners.

Farming is still very much alive here. It has landed the prize as "Austria's most beautiful village". And the competition for that one is tough.

Worth the trip: Boglalm is an Alpbach favorite, offering authentic local food such as beef soup and grilled sausage.

Boglalm, 6236 Alpbach, Austria; +43 5336 5177

3. Megeve, France

Unique selling points: Mont Blanc views, stylish center, scent of pine.

Megeve muscles into the list by virtue of its location, with close-up views of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak. The town was one of the first purpose-built resorts in the Alps. Cruising the wonderfully wooded lower slopes fills your nostrils with the pleasant scent of pine.

Worth the trip: Foodies are spoiled for choice in Megeve, especially in three-Michelin-starred Flocons de Sel.

Flocons de Sel, 1775 Route du Leutaz, 74120 Megeve, France; +33 027 967 25 52

4. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Unique selling points: a magnet for the beautiful set, an Olympic site.

Just two hours north of Venice, Cortina d'Ampezzo is in a UNESCO World Natural Heritage region. Cortina hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and was the setting for a certain James Bond film.

Worth the trip: If it's good enough for Mr. Bond, Miramonti Majestic Grand Hotel might do the job for you. Or take up 007's license to thrill and hit the Olympic bobsled (长橇) run.

Miramonti Majestic Grand Hotel, Via Pezie 103, 32043 Cortina d 'Ampezzo, Italy; +39 0436 4201

6 . Australia was always a country I wanted to visit, so I saved up some money and booked a flight to go traveling up the east coast of Australia at the end of my work in London.

The flight made me realize exactly how far away Australia is from home. I spent 10 hours traveling on a plane from London to Hong Kong, then a further 8 hours to Sydney, my first stop in Australia. The flight went quite quickly though, since there were lots of films to watch to keep me amused. It was strange when I arrived because everything was upside down over there; it was the start of winter (in May)! It also took me a while to get used to the time difference as I was always one day ahead of all my friends and family back home.

The country is truly beautiful, full of amazing views and wildlife you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the world.

One of my experiences of my trip was seeing koalas closely in Brisbane -- there were koalas everywhere sleeping in the trees and I even got the chance to hold one. There was also big grassland full of kangaroos that we were allowed to feed. They were really smart and very friendly.

The highlight of my trip was snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, as the water as amazingly clear with a beautiful shade of blue. I also got the chance to see some special creatures underwater, such as sea turtles and even a shark.

Australia is an amazing country and worth visiting one day if you ever get the chance.

Eastern China can see a sea of flowers     1    full bloom in the water. Every spring, this gorgeous sea of flowers attracts countless tourists     2     (appreciate) the beautiful scenery.

What people see is actually a great example of Chinese intelligence. China’s ancient philosophy, the harmonious     3    (interact) with nature, blooms and hears fruit here. 5.000 years ago, this was a beach. 3, 000 year ago, the coastline moved eastward, and appeared in Xinghua area. 1, 000 years ago, to prevent floods, the hardworking and intelligent people in Xinghua dug a network of deep ditches or streams in the swamps     4     piled up the soil on one side, forming fields suitable for cultivation.

This fields’ shapes and sizes vary. Big ones can In, a kilometer wide, the smaller ones just a few meters. All have our thing in common--they are surrounded by water. The fields     5    (disconnect) to each other, looking like islets on the sea.

For the local natural conditions, hardworking and intelligent local ancestors     6    ( transform) low-lying wetlands unsuitable for agriculture into farmland field fields, providing grains and vegetables for     7     locals. Also, these fields have maintained the original water currents, rivers and canals, and the surmounting natural     8    (ecology) environment.

It has formed a new landscape     9    (represent) the unity of man and nature. Today the unique landform of the Xinghua Fields has become a     10     (global) important agricultural heritage.

Grand View Tower, Daguan Lou, sits on the shore of Dianchi Lake and faces the Western Hill across the Dianchi Lake in southwest Kunming City.

In 1682 a monk named Qianyin built a small temple here     1     (teach) Buddhism; eight years later, the official of Yunnan Province, Wang Jiwen, was so attracted by the beautiful natural views that he began to construct a whole park here. Grand View Tower has been an     2     (attract) ever since with the most visited spot     3     (be) the Daguan Park. The Daguan Park,     4     many other ancient Chinese buildings, has also been destroyed and restored several times because of changes of     5     (dynasty) and civil wars. The present-day park     6     (build) in 1883.

The couplet (对联) displayed at the entrance is the     7     (long) one of all in China     8     (write) by a famous scholar named Sun Ran. The couplet of 180 characters is one of the most valued cultural treasures in Yunnan Province. The first part of the couplet describes the beautiful natural views,     9     urges people to enjoy and treasure this special part of China. The second part of the couplet reviews the 2,000 years history of Yunnan and reminds people that no matter     10     successful or frustrated you are, all will be in nothingness (虚无) in the end.

10 . The Grand circle—All Year Long

In the Grand Circle, there is no reason to pick one season or one vacation over another—you can do it all.   Combine skiing outside Denver or Salt Lake city with hiking in Moab or golfing in Sedona. If the South Rim is chilly in winter, hike into the Grand for a springtime paradise. If canyons (峡谷) seem too warm in summer, drive up into the mountains for cool green escapes.

Driving Tips

Gas up. You can travel a hundred miles between fuel stops. Make sure all of your vehicles with liquid are full, too.

Watch for animals. Free-range livestock grazing (放牧) is commonplace out here—and if the cows and sheep don’t wander into the road, the deer might.

Road signs. If a road sign shows a warning like “Steep Curves Ahead,” or “Chains or Snow Tires Required,” or advises you not to continue without four wheel drive, believe it.Cary water and—in winter—extra clothes and a small shovel.

Cultural etiquette

Indian reservations are independent nations. Traffic violations and accidents may bring you up before tribal, not state.Alcohol is not permitted on most reservations; carrying it―whether in open or closed containers—is illegal. Consider, at all times, that you are a guest of a different culture, a different nation. Do not photograph people unless permission is requested and gran led. Never interrupt ceremonies or rituals. Do not assume all people speak English. If you are buying crafts from a roadside stand, ask if the price is negotiable; sometimes it is, often it isn’t.

Be weather wise

When rain or thunder storms are possible, be cautious. When camping or hiking in narrow canyons and washes.

Save with park passes

There are over thirty national parks and monuments, national recreation areas, and national historic parks within the Grand Circle, as well as national forests, state parks and tribal parks. Most sites charge an entrance fee, but National Park Service and state multiparty passes are available.