1 . I live in Xizhou in Yunnan Province, on the historic Tea Horse Road. I have to admit that when I first heard that Paul Salopek was going to walk the entire globe on his own two feet, I was blown away. I couldn’t imagine that there could be such an unusual person in the world.
Last May, I met Paul. He told me that it was his first time in China. He talked to me with great excitement about the history, migrations, and discoveries in my region of China. He spoke of the Shu-Yandu Dao (the Southern Silk Road), the travels of the 17th-century Chinese explorer Xu Xiake, the Tea Horse Road and the early 20th-century American botanist Joseph Rock. He also talked of Xuanzang. Paul considered many of them heroes and in a sense Chinese pioneers of slow journalism.
I decided to accompany Paul on his walk toward Yunnan. On September 28, 2021, we set out. Our days were simple: walk, eat, sleep, and repeat. We woke up at sunrise, set off in high spirits, and rested at sunset, dragging ourselves into exhausted sleep.
We met many people on the road. Some were curious, surrounding us and watching us; some gave us directions; some invited us into their home to take a rest; some spoke of the charm of their hometown. We met many beautiful souls, simple souls and warm souls. We were walking with our minds.
Together, we were impressed by the biodiversity of the Gaoligong Mountains. As I walked on ancient paths through mountains, I seemed to hear the antique voices of past travelers urging me to be careful on the road.
Looking back on the more than 200 miles I walked with Paul, I came to a realization. Walking for its own sake, while healthy and admirable, is only a small part of the benefit of moving with our feet. A deeper reward is rediscovering the world around us, shortening the distance between each other, and sharing each other’s cultures.
1. How did the writer first respond to Paul’s travel plan?| A．Scared. | B．Puzzled. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Surprised. |
| A．He was a western journalist. | B．He had a knowledge of China. |
| C．He came to China several times. | D．He was Joseph Rock’s acquaintance. |
| A．They honored the ancestors. | B．They set off in high spirits. |
| C．They satisfied the locals’ curiosity. | D．They built bonds with people. |
| A．To share and reflect on a journey. | B．To suggest a new way of travel. |
| C．To advocate protection of biodiversity. | D．To introduce and promote Chinese culture. |
2 . Sunflower season is right around the corner. Here are several most beautiful golden fields near London.
Garsons Farm
At Garsons Farm you will find three separate sunflower fields across its 155 acres. You’ll need to purchase a crop farm pass (£4 for adults, £1 for kids) in advance and pay 99 pence per flower. This farm is also home to over 75 varieties of fruits, vegetables and plants that can be picked during your visit, but be sure to check crop availability on its website beforehand.
Hitchin Lavender Farm
This spot is most famous for its purple crops of lavender (熏衣草), but it is also home to dozens of sunflowers! You will be charged £6 for your entry to the farm, and 50 pence per stem. And for £50 you can hire a personal photographer and have your very own photos with the plants.
Cotswold Farm Park
Cotswold Farm Park was founded to help protect rare species of farm animals in 1971. You will not only find flowering sunflowers but plenty of furry four-legged friends, too. The park also contains several photo stations throughout the field. Tickets must be booked in advance and cost £7 per adult.
Broomfield Farm
This fruit farm is open every Saturday and Sunday for those who want to see sunflowers on their weekends! It produces all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowers that you can purchase in their farm shop or pick yourself during your visit. You are allowed to bring a picnic with you and the £4 entry is taken off your “pay and weigh” bill at the end.
1. What’s the entry fee for a couple and two kids if they go to Garsons Farm?| A．£6. | B．£7. | C．£8. | D．£10. |
| A．At Garsons Farm. | B．At Bromfield Farm. |
| C．At Cotswold Farm Park. | D．At Hitchin Lavender Farm. |
| A．Sunflower lovers. | B．Holiday campers. | C．Field researchers. | D．Nature photographers. |
3 . Close your eyes. What does your dream hotel look like? Does it have chandeliers? Do the rooms have beds covered with rose petals? Do the bathrooms have Jacuzzis? Are there breathtaking views from the balcony? Is the hotel made of brick? Marble? Ice? Ice sounds a bit ridiculous, but a hotel made of ice is actually a reality.
Sweden’s Icehotel is the latest cool hotel in town, and it really is made of ice. So, how did this idea come about? It all started in 1990. A French artist held the opening of his exhibition in a man-made igloo on the frozen Tome River--- home of the Icehotel. The igloo was named “Arctic Hall” and attracted many visitors. Among these visitors was a brave group of adventurers who used the igloo as their accommodation. This act of bravery, (or madness, depending on your perspective) inspired the construction of the Icehotel.
Situated 200 km above the Arctic Circle, the hotel is only open during the winter months. Why? Because the ice starts to melt in the spring time. This means that the hotel is built from scratch every year. As soon as winter begins, architects, ice sculptors and artists meet in Sweden’s Lapland to build this beautiful creation.
But does this hotel have any of the facilities you find in a regular hotel? Well, actually, yes. In fact, the Icehotel seems to have everything: the famous “Absolute IceBar”, an ice art exhibition and a cinema. It even has an ice sauna and spa to keep you warm. And, of course, you can enjoy the natural habitat that surrounds the hotel, There is a snowmobile safari which takes you across the snowfields. And if you’re feeling brave, you can drive the snowmobile yourself.
The Icehotel is a real find. And, it’s not impossible to get to, either. There are flights and trains every day. If you’re travelling from London, it will take you only three and a half hours to get there. So, what are you waiting for? Just make sure you wrap up warm and take a thermal sleeping bag.
1. Why did the author ask so many questions in Paragraph 1?| A．To express his doubts. |
| B．To compare different hotels. |
| C．To present his dream hotel. |
| D．To introduce the main topic. |
| A．store paintings and materials |
| B．offer adventurous activities |
| C．hold an exhibition |
| D．provide accommodation for visitors |
| A．It takes on a new look every year. |
| B．It is located outside the Arctic Circle. |
| C．It is designed by Swedish artists. |
| D．It is open all the year round. |
| A．drive your car around |
| B．enjoy ice sculptures |
| C．drink in the bar |
| D．see a film in the cinema |
4 . Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition & Theatre Tour is a special international visit to enjoy Shakespeare’s work. Open all year round, it gives you an opportunity to learn more about the most famous playwright, Shakespeare, and helps you have a better understanding of him.
Group Visits to the Exhibition & Theatre Tour
* Opening Hours
Exhibition: Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Weekends: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Theatre Tours: Monday - Sunday: 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Groups of 15 people or more are required to pre-book their visit, and each group will have its own guide for free. To make a reservation, please fill in a Group Request Form and return it to us via email.
* Exhibition and Tour Prices
Adult: $15.00 Senior (60+): $13.50
Student (with valid ID): $11.50 Child (5-15): $ 8.00
Complimentary: Every 16th person is free
* Getting here
Shakespeare’s Globe 21 New Globe Walk, London SEl9DT, UK .
Visitors are advised to arrive by public transport or by taxi. There is a car park on Thames
Exchange on the north side of Southwark Bridge (open 24 hours, seven days a week). Taxis may be found all year round on Southwark Bridge.
*Where to eat
Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe offers modern British seasonal food for dinner, afternoon tea or drinks in our beautiful bar and restaurant set over two floors, available for pre- and post-theatre dining.
1. When can you pay a visit to the exhibition?| A．8 a.m. on Sunday. | B．11:30 a.m. on Friday. |
| C．4:40 p.m. on Saturday. | D．6 p.m. on Tuesday. |
| A．$240. | B．$225. | C．$184. | D．$216. |
| A．A theater poster. | B．A history textbook. | C．A fiction novel. | D．A travel guide. |
5 . Air travel can be a real headache. But if you happen to have a stop at Changi Airport in Singapore, you’re in for a wonderful treat.
The main attraction is the Jewel, a donut-shaped glass building featuring the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, known as the HSBC Rain Vortex. The 130-foot-tall waterfall uses rainwater that drops seven stories down from the roof. When the water hits the floor, it travels through a large funnel (漏斗), creating an inverted (倒转的) waterfall for two levels in the airport located below the ground level.
The effect is maximized at night when the waterfall is the centerpiece of a 360-degree light and audio exhibit. The Rain Vortex was designed by Los Angeles -based design firm WET. Design director Peter Kopik explained, “It’s like the roof is pouring in and the building is getting completed in liquid form.”
If the Rain Vortex isn’t enough to attract you to have a stop at Changi Airport, perhaps the Shiseido Forest Valley will. It is spread out across five levels and reaches 100 foot high, with multiple trails for guests to explore. It’s filled with more than 900 trees and about 60,000 shrubs. Special species from China, the United States, and Australia were chosen because they’re most likely to survive the structure’s temperature, humidity (湿度), and sun exposure.
At the top of the forest is Canopy Park, where people can get different views of the Rain Vortex. There are additional gardens, activities, and restaurants to explore.
The Jewel is located near Terminal 1 in an area that used to be a parking lot. The attraction covers 1.46 million square feet. It was constructed specifically to attract more tourists to the airport and make it one of the most desirable places to kill time between flights. After all, wouldn’t you rather explore an indoor forest and waterfall for a few hours instead of sitting in a crowded airport lounge with just your smart phone for entertainment?
1. What is the feature of the HSBC Rain Vortex?| A．Its light and audio effects work all day long. |
| B．It uses rainwater collected from the roof. |
| C．It has a capacity of 130 shops. |
| D．It is the tallest waterfall in the world. |
| A．Because they are well attended to. |
| B．Because they prefer to live in tropical areas. |
| C．Because they could avoid the danger of extinction. |
| D．Because they could adapt to the environmental conditions there. |
| A．To enhance the volume of tourists. |
| B．To make it the most desirable place of interest. |
| C．To offer more convenient services to the aged. |
| D．To show the comprehensive national power of Singapore. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Critical. | D．Neutral. |
6 . Last summer holiday, Aunt Emily took us to a safari park (野生动物园), not far from Liverpool.
I was very happy to go as I had never been to a safari park before. It’s a very interesting park, full of wild animals running freely.
When we got there, we bought our tickets and drove into the park. We were very excited at the thought of going to see the lions. But to get to the lions’ place we had to go through the monkeys’ land first. And that was an unforgettable experience because they climbed all over the car, ate apples and bananas, and threw all kinds of things at us. They seemed very unfriendly.
Anyway, we went on our way to the lions’ place where we had to lock ourselves in the car as we knew lions could be dangerous. A lion came up very close to us. Then it was on the bonnet (车盖). It looked calm but we felt terrified. Aunt Emily, who isn’t very brave, started to call for help. The kids started crying. Only my brother, George, stayed cool. I sounded the horn (喇叭) but nobody heard us.
In the end a guard arrived in his car, and the lion just got off our car and started smelling the guard’s hand as if nothing was the matter.
1. Which animal did the author want to see the most?| A．The lions. | B．The elephants. | C．The monkeys. | D．All of them. |
| A．Because the monkeys might steal things. | B．Because they were afraid of being robbed. |
| C．Because the lions might be dangerous. | D．Because something was wrong with the car. |
| A．Excited. | B．Bored. | C．Interested | D．Scared |
| A．Aunt Emily. | B．George. | C．The guard. | D．The author. |
7 . Last July, my parents and I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Seattle, a city on the northwest American coast. Dad did some research and had no difficulty in finding us cheap tickets online.
On the day of our flight (飞行),we had to wake up very early. When we checked our bags in, we found that one bag weighed too much, so we had to pay a fine(罚款). After that, Dad insisted that we go and have some breakfast at the airport restaurant. We had a lot of fun watching many different people there. Then we realized it was getting late, so we rushed to the gate. It took one hour for everyone to get on the plane, but finally the door was shut and we were on our way!
I think what I liked most during our trip was our visit to Mount Rainier,which was near Seattle. It was nothing like I had expected. Before we left, my aunt lent us hats to protect us from getting sunburned, so I sup-posed that it would be very hot. Imagine my surprise when we drove up the mountain and I discovered the top was covered in snow and ice!
My uncle led us to a small path beyond the main road to increase our chances of seeing wildlife. We walked over a small hill, and suddenly be-fore us there appeared a field of snow. Small wild flowers grew up through the snow; under the snow we could hear rushing water-a small stream. Little animals stood still to avoid being noticed; tiny birds rose into the air. It was the most beautiful sight that I’d ever seen.
1. Why did they have to pay a fine?| A．Because they got up late. |
| B．Because they didn’t wait in line. |
| C．Because one of their bags was overweight. |
| D．Because they came to the airport late. |
| A．The flight to Seattle. |
| B．The visit to Mount Rainier. |
| C．The breakfast in the airport. |
| D．The discovery of a small stream. |
| A．To avoid the snowy road. |
| B．To enjoy more of the wildlife. |
| C．To take a shortcut to save time. |
| D．To avoid being attacked by animals. |
8 . For those who are keen to explore natural wonders and cultural heritage sites and to pursue (追求) the passion of local people for ice and snow in Jilin province, now it is the time to go there.
Rime observation
Compared with rime (雾凇)in other regions of China, rime in Jilin city is unique (独特的) because it is thick and crystal clear. A toothpick-thick tree branch can be covered in frost as thick as an adult's thumb. The best time to observe is at 6-10am between November and February.
Winter fishing
Chagan Lake is one of the top 10 largest freshwater lakes in China. It covers more than500 square kilometers. Winter fishing on Chagan Lake is an ancient tradition that dates back to the Liao Dynasty and Jin Dynasty. It was listed as a national-level intangible (无形的) cultural heritage item in 2008.
Hot springs
For those who want to feel warm in winter in Jilin province, Changbai Mountains area could be the best place to visit. The region, formed after a volcanic eruption in ancient times, holds hundreds of hot springs with an average temperature above 60℃.The hot springs are said to be good for health because of their stable flow, constant temperature and mineral-rich water.
1. What makes rime special in Jilin city?| A．Its observation time. | B．Its thickness and clearness. |
| C．Its unique tree branches. | D．Its fame as a cultural heritage. |
| A．It formed in the Liao Dynasty. |
| B．It covers less than 500 square kilometers. |
| C．It is the 10th largest saltwater lake in China |
| D．It is one national non-material cultural heritage |
| A．Because of hot springs. | B．Because of the volcano. |
| C．Because of the rime. | D．Because of winter fishing |
| A．Technology. | B．Business. | C．Travel. | D．Art |
9 . Now that my children are grown, I have resumed (中断后继续) a habit: solo travel. The seed was planted when I was 17 and went on a class trip to Spain. The experience was similar to reading my first book. I remember when I separated from the group and went through the busy streets of Madrid on my own, looking at the architecture gawkingly, trying unfamiliar foods, and gathering the courage to engage the natives with my high school Spanish. After that adventure I sought every opportunity to explore on my own, because I wanted to move according to my ideas.
I recall, many years ago, before I became a dad, arranging to work for a summer on an Icelandic farm in exchange for room and board. The driver stopped at the appointed place, but no one was there to meet me. And so I put my backpack down and read a book, knowing that when one travels one is never lost.
I tell this story to calm the fears of friends and others who have occasionally raised their hands to their faces upon hearing what I was up to. Some are specialists in outlining for me all the things that can go wrong when one launches oneself into the unknown. But for me, that’s the whole point of travel: to go where I haven’t gone before, to discover friendships waiting to be made, to interface with unfamiliar scents (气味) and tastes, to enter a new and, for me, undiscovered environment where being pleasantly surprised is the reward.
A few years back I went to Greenland. I spent a week hiking its mountains, interacting with the natives, and sailing the bays. It was inspiring. I hopped (登上) my flight back to Iceland feeling well satisfied. But when I got off the plane and saw the line of passengers waiting for their flight to Greenland, all I wanted to do was turn around and join them. Once again it was proved for me that I would never get travel out of my system.
1. How did the class trip to Spain affect the writer?| A．He discovered the magic of solo travel. |
| B．He realized the pleasure of reading books. |
| C．He became interested in learning Spanish. |
| D．He formed a habit of collecting plant seeds. |
| A．Curiously. | B．Randomly. | C．Casually. | D．Anxiously. |
| A．Going wherever you would like to. | B．Going in the unknown environment. |
| C．Exploring something new all the way. | D．Getting a reward from challenging fear. |
| A．His impatient personality. | B．His crazy desire for travelling. |
| C．His quickness to follow others. | D．His tendency to be easily satisfied. |
Last summer, my family
I
In addition to the people and transportation, I found the buildings were
My visit to Shanghai City was like discovering a new way of life. I felt anxious
