1 . 2 Days Xi’an-Luoyang Tour by Bullet Train

Tour Overview

Xi’an and Luoyang are two of the four most famous ancient capital cities in China. Taking a bullet train from Xi’an, one will arrive in Luoyang in about 2.5 hours.

Day 1: Xi’an-Luoyang by Bullet Train

AM: At around 7:00, a local driver will pick you up from the hotel. Then you’ll transfer to North Xi’an Railway Station for the bullet train to Luoyang. Upon your arrival in Luoyang, you’ll meet a local guide holding a name board.

The guide will lead you to visit the Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving artworks. There are over 100 thousand stone statues along the two banks of the Yi River.

PM: After lunch. you will pay a visit to the Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits. The Eastern Zhou Dynasty is the last slavery dynasty in Chinese history. The last stop is Luoyang Museum which is a historical museum of China and houses over 1,700 cultural and historical relics in 5 showrooms.

Accommodation: Hotel booked by your own

Day 2: Luoyang-Xi’an by Bullet Train

AM: After breakfast on your own, please meet your driver and guide in the hotel at 9:00 and then drive for about 1 hour 20 minutes to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts. Here you will see the Kungfu show performed by Shaolin monks.

PM: Finish the sightseeing, you will take the bullet train back to Xi’ an. Your 2 days Xi’ an-Luoyang tour ends here.

Tour Price Per Person

Travelers	1 Person	2 Person	3 Person	4 Person	5 Person
Tour Price	$512	$317	$255	$223	$220
Travelers	6 Person	7 Person	8 Person	9 Person	10+ Person
Tour Price	$205	$192	$185	$178	Contact us

1. Which city does the tour begin from?

A．Xi’an.

B．Luoyang.

C．Beijing.

D．Shanghai.

2. Which is the first stop on Day 1?

A．Shaolin Temple.

B．Luoyang Museum.

C．Longmen Grottoes.

D．Yi River.

3. How much should a couple pay for the tour?

A．$317.

B．$510.

C．$512.

D．$634.

2 . Last summer, my family and I went on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. It was our first family vacation in years, and we were all ______ to spend some quality time together. We ______ our car with snacks, water, and a lot of sunscreen, and then ______ the road.

The trip was long, but we kept ourselves ______ with card games and singing along to our favourite songs. When we finally arrived at the Grand Canyon, we were ______ by the breathtaking views. We spent the next few days hiking, taking pictures, and ______ the area.

One of the highlights of the trip was when we went on a helicopter ______ of the Grand Canyon. It was a great ______, and we all felt like we were on top of the world. We took a lot of pictures and videos, and we still ______ them to this day.

As the trip came to an end, we all felt a sense of ______. We didn’t want to go back to our busy ______. We wanted to stay together and keep exploring. ______, we knew that we had to go back home.

Looking back on the trip, I realized how important it is to spend time with ______. In our busy life, we often forget to slow down and enjoy the little moments. The trip ______ me of the importance of ______ memories and cherishing (珍惜) the time we have with our loved ones.

1.

A．satisfied

B．excited

C．confused

D．annoyed

2.

A．packed up

B．cleaned up

C．pulled over

D．turned over

3.

A．followed

B．repaired

C．hit

D．filmed

4.

A．organized

B．addicted

C．challenged

D．entertained

5.

A．amazed

B．cheated

C．frightened

D．trapped

6.

A．measuring

B．designing

C．exploring

D．assessing

7.

A．experiment

B．sale

C．exhibition

D．tour

8.

A．experience

B．effort

C．regret

D．accident

9.

A．add

B．watch

C．make

D．record

10.

A．relaxation

B．sadness

C．relief

D．anger

11.

A．school

B．classes

C．life

D．neighborhoods

12.

A．Besides

B．Otherwise

C．Therefore

D．However

13.

A．family

B．strangers

C．staff

D．colleagues

14.

A．informed

B．reminded

C．warned

D．cured

15.

A．changing

B．losing

C．creating

D．recognizing

3 . Mia, 12, is now on a year-long trip with her parents and three younger brothers. Far from their home in Quebec, Canada, the family rode horses in Mongolia, kayaked in Cambodia, camped in Namibia and flew in a hot air balloon in Turkey, looking to collect as many once-in-a-lifetime memories as they could.

The memories really matter because unless science makes a breakthrough soon, three of the children will become blind, likely in adulthood. They have been diagnosed with a disease that has no effective treatment and no specific timeline as it gradually robs them of their sight.

The diagnoses came in 2015. Despite the grief, the parents were surprised to find Mia, then 7, was calm about it. She announced that she would need to start keeping her bedroom especially neat, with everything in its place. “In the future, I’ll need to know where things are,” Mia said.

“She’s finding solutions on her own,” the parents told each other. “We need to follow her lead.” And so the idea of a yearlong trip was born, one that would show the kids the world, in person and at close range – while the kids could still see it. For the next two years, the parents saved money and researched places to visit. “How we adults see the world and how kids see the world are so different.” says the mother, Edith. “It would have to be less about temples and museums and more about whatever caught their eyes.”

By the time the trip began to wind down in early 2023, the family had traveled 52,000 miles and visited 18 countries. Mia grew taller and when entering adolescence, needed more independence. Her brothers became more confident and outgoing. The kids were very aware that they had learned a lot. “There’s a lot of suffering, a lot of poverty, but lots of good and interesting things too. We should be positive.” said Mia.

1. What’s the probable function of the first paragraph?

A．To lead in the story behind.

B．To arouse the readers’ interest.

C．To provide background information.

D．To inform readers of a wonderful trip.

2. What can be inferred about the parents from paragraph 3 and 4?

A．They are optimistic about the children’s disease.

B．They are surprised at their daughter’s creative ideas.

C．They are proud of their daughter’s courage to face difficulties.

D．They are open-minded enough to respect their children’s decision.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The details about the year-long journey.

B．The keen anticipation of Mia about the future.

C．The changes of the kids physically and mentally.

D．The impression Mia had of what she had experienced.

4. Which is the best title of the story?

A．Seeing is believing.

B．Making the most of the vision.

C．Man who travels far knows more.

D．The eyes are the window to the soul.

4 . Some Arrangements for the Beijing Tour

Day 1

Any visit to Beijing is incomplete without a hike on the Great Wall. However, it is thousands of miles long and the Beijing section is only a small part of the Great Wall. The first choice is Badaling, but we recommend Juyong Pass, which is less crowded but no less impressive. Depending on your health and preference, you can climb very steep steps or have a walk on the relatively flat areas. There are many locations for great photo opportunities,

Day 2

Start at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors used to hold ceremonies to pray. Stop at the Echo Wall and discover the wonder of voices bouncing (弹跳) back and forth. Pass through the guard-protected Golden Water Bridge, and go to visit the Palace Museum.

Day 3

You can pay a visit to Capital Museum where the exhibits have more surprises. Take a walk along Wangfujing Street, a modern shopping street. The walking is much less intensive and the budgeted time much more flexible. You may want to finish the day off by catching a performance of Peking Opera and National Centre for the Performing Arts is an ideal place to go.

Day 4

The Summer Palace in a northwestern suburb of the city is a beautiful place. A short taxi ride north will take you to Qianmen Street. This retail centre was renovated (翻新) for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Here are some of the oldest businesses of the city, including the famous Peking Duck.

1. Which day covers a visit to the Great wall?

A．Day 1.

B．Day 2.

C．Day 3.

D．Day 4.

2. Where should you go to enjoy Peking Opera according to the text?

A．To Capital Museum.

B．Ta the Summer Palace.

C．To the Palace Museum.

D．To National Centre for the Performing Arts.

3. What can you do in Qiammen Street?

A．Buy a taxi.	B．Go shopping.
C．Renovate the street.	D．Cook Peking Duck.

5 . While temperatures continue to climb, visitors are still coming to see Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border. The park is known as the hottest place on Earth. This past weekend, the temperatures climbed to 53.33℃. Most visitors at this time of year make it only a short distance to any area in the park before returning to the cool air in their vehicles.

Early information from the park service shows that across the nation’s 424 national parks, at least four people have died this year from heat-related causes. That includes a 65-year-old man from San Diego who was found dead at Death Valley earlier this month.

Death Valley National Park suggests visitors be careful and not have expectations of rescue. While park rangers (护林员) drive on park roads and can aid tourists in need, it is unsure that lost visitors will get help in time.

Physical activity can make the heat feel even worse and leave people exhausted. Alessia Dempster, who was visiting from Edinburgh, Scotland, said, “It’s very hot especially when there’s a gentle wind. You would think maybe that would give you some slight relief from the heat, but it just really does feel like an air blow dryer just going back in your face.”

Death Valley is a narrow area that is below sea level and surrounded by high mountains, the park service’s website says. The dry air and small plant coverage let sunlight heat up the park surface. The heat then becomes trapped in the valley.

Still, several areas in Death Valley continue to draw tourists. Badwater Basin, made up of salt flats, is considered the lowest point in all of North America. The 183-meter Ubehebe Crater dates back over 2,000 years. And Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise viewing spot.

Josh Miller, a visitor from Indianapolis who has been to 20 national parks so far, shared that feeling. “It’s hot, but the scenery is awesome,” he said.

1. What do most visitors do in Death Valley?

A．Cool themselves in time.	B．Do lots of physical exercises.
C．Stay away from park rangers.	D．Carry dryers with themselves.

2. Why does the author mention the 65-year-old man in paragraph 2?

A．To encourage the elderly to travel more.

B．To express admiration for mountain climbers.

C．To advise people to tour Death Valley more often.

D．To show the danger of traveling in Death Valley.

3. What does paragraph 5 mainly tell us about Death Valley?

A．Its covering area.	B．Its attractive spots.
C．The reason why it is so hot.	D．The service of its park’s website.

4. What can be inferred about Death Valley from the last two paragraphs?

A．It has a short history.	B．It is worth visiting.
C．It draws fewer and fewer tourists.	D．It is unsuitable for viewing sunrise.

6 . Cheapest Islands in the World to Visit

Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas

As the northernmost of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama dishes up plenty of cheap activities alongside its white-sand beaches. Visiting Lucayan National Park, which is home to both beloved Gold Rock Beach and one of the largest underwater cave (洞穴) systems in the world, is an affordable trip. There are hotel rooms at $80 a night.

Madeira, Portugal

Though closer to mainland Africa, Madeira is a part of Portugal known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Visitors can find hotels starting at $85 a night, and enjoy plenty of low-cost activities, like rowing a boat around the volcanic Porto Moniz natural swimming pools, and admiring the never-ending views around the island. No wonder it’s been called the “Hawaii of Europe”.

Dominican Republic

Looking for one of the least expensive Caribbean islands? The Dominican Republic is full of affordable surprises. In Santo Domingo, walk around Zona Colonial, the historic heart of the country’s capital, you’ll find castles, cathedrals (教堂), cobblestone streets, and cafés around every corner. During the low season (summer), you can find hotel deals starting at $33 a night.

Sri Lanka

Do you want to spend just $25～50 a day? Then go to Sri Lanka. Since the South Asian island country is one of the largest tea producers in the world, start with a tea factory tour on a peaceful hike. Taking a train ride through the hills from Kandy to Badulla or from Colombo to Galle is an enjoyable and affordable way to see the countryside.

1. What can you do in Lucayan National Park?

A．Visit a huge castle.	B．Enjoy the beautiful beach.
C．Swim in Porto Moniz.	D．Go on a tea factory tour.

2. What is special about Zona Colonial?

A．It requires booking.	B．It has historic sites.
C．It is famous for tea.	D．It is closed in summer.

3. Which of the following would provide a hotel room at the lowest price?

A．Dominica.

B．The Bahamas.

C．Portugal.

D．Sri Lanka.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Seated in the center of Beijing, the Palace Museum,     1     was built in the former palace of the Ming(1368—1644) and Qing(1644—1911）dynasties,     2    （cover)an area of 1.12 square kilometers, and is home to 1.8 million artistic     3    (piece)that represent the best part of Chinese traditional culture.

Ever since     4     founding of the museum in 1925, the halls of the former palace have been turned into public showrooms, while the royal families’ private rooms have been preserved     5    （protect)the old decorations.

Exhibitions     6    (feature)architecture, bronzes and ceramics are available all year round but exhibitions of paintings and calligraphic works are     7    (basic)held in Spring and Summer due to strict requirements for proper temperature and humidity. Many of the     8    (remark)artworks, including paintings, sculptures and rare books, belong     9     the royal families’ private collection.

The northern and southern sections of the palace wall are accessible and a walk on top of the ten-meter-high wall can be the best way either to start     10     to end a tour of the Museum as one can enjoy a sweeping view of the entire Forbidden City.

8 . Viator, a trip advisor company, offers a variety of tourism programs near London. The following are some of its programs.

Thames River Sightseeing Cruise (乘船游览) with Afternoon Tea (Aug. 18)

While in London, you can add the moment of enjoying British tradition to an afternoon tea cruise. You can have a unique dining experience with family and friends on the Thames River. As you cruise from Tower Pier to Westminster, you can enjoy tea, freshly prepared cakes and sandwiches, and view London’s great landmarks, including the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye.

Lowest Price: $ 57. 7

Duration: 1. 5 hours

Kid-Friendly Private Tour (Aug. 20)

This tour is a private tour of the Tower of London with pre-booked admission tickets. It is specially designed for families with children, including interesting stories from over the centuries. You can enjoy a visit to the Crown Jewels, red-uniformed Beefeaters, and a stop at the Beasts of the Royal Menagerie.

Lowest Price: $ 309. 35

Duration: 6 hours

Walking Tour (Aug. 22)

This action-packed walking tour covers London’s two most historic areas: the City of London and Westminster. See more than 30 sights, including the Tower of London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and so on.

Lowest Price: $19. 35

Duration: 5 hours

Night Open-Top Bus Tour with Christmas Lights (Nov. 18)

You will see a different side of London on an open-top bus tour that discovers the best of the city’s Christmas lights. Sitting on the top deck gives you overall views of England’s capital, including top attractions such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Lowest Price: $ 30. 97

Duration: 2 hours

1. What can visitors enjoy during the Kid-Friendly Private Tour?

A．Freshly prepared cakes.	B．Christmas lights.
C．A Cruise experience.	D．Interesting stories.

2. How long does the Walking Tour last?

A．1. 5 hours.

B．2 hours.

C．5 hours.

D．6 hours.

3. Which of the four programs starts the latest?

A．Walking Tour.

B．Kid-Friendly Private Tour.

C．Night Open-Top Bus Tour with Christmas Lights.

D．Thames River Sightseeing Cruise with Afternoon Tea.

9 . With the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park to its east, Zhongnanhai to its south, Beihai Park, also known as Northern Sea Park, is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardenst (皇家花园) in China located in the center of Beijing.

Beihai Park is said to be built according to a traditional Chinese legend. The story is that once upon a time there were three magic mountains called “Penglai”, “Yingzhou” and “Fangzhang”. Gods in those mountains had a kind of medicine which would help humans gain immortality (永生). Consequently, many emperors constantly sought those mountains. I For example, Emperor Qin Shihuang had sent people to look for the magic mountains but they failed. Emperor Wudi, the fifth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty did similar things.

It was believed that different mountain-water combinations in ancient Chinese architecture led to totally different effects. So from then on, almost every emperor during the succeeding dynasties would build a royal garden with one-pool-with-three-hill layout near his palace. Beihai Park was surely built after this traditional style: the water of Beihai with Zhongnanhai is the Taiye Pool; the Jade Flowery Islet, the island of the Circular City and the Xishantai Island represent the three magic mountains.

Actually, Beihai Park was initially built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and was repaired and rebuilt in the following dynasties including Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing. The large-scale rebuilding in the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) generally established the present scale and pattern. In 1925, it was first opened to the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

It is enjoyable to walk around the various scenic areas in Beihai Park. There are many places to visit, including the Bai Ta, Five-Dragon Pavilions, Nine-Dragon Wall, Yong’an Temple and so on. There is also a classy restaurant called Fangshan Restaurant where the Empress Cixi once dined.

1. Where is Beihai Park?

A．Near the ocean.	B．In the south of Zhongnanhai.
C．To the west side of Jingshan Park.	D．In the uptown area of Beijing City.

2. What is the similarity between Emperor Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wudi of Han according to the text?

A．They loved to listen to stories.	B．They both pursued immortality.
C．They were mountain-climbing lovers.	D．They were the first emperor of their dynasties.

3. How old is Beihai Park?

A．Less than 100 years old.	B．About 500 years old.
C．About 1, 000 years old.	D．Nearly 2, 000 years old.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A famous park.	B．Historical palaces.
C．An unforgettable legend.	D．Ancient architectural styles.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Next week, I’ll be traveling to Australia to visit a friend over the school holidays and I’m excited to explore this new country. I’ve already researched many iconic sites ,     1     (include) the Sydney Opera House and the Great Ocean Road, and animals like koalas and kangaroos. But as a social study student,     2     interests me most is experiencing the culture, food, and way of life of Australians and meeting new people. So far, my trip     3     (take) me to Sydney, where my friend took me to my first open-air barbecue and introduced me to many of the country’s delicious dishes. I’ve learned that many     4     (type) Australian foods, like the Sunday roast, have British origins, but Asian influences have also led to new food introductions like bean curd and dim sim. I have traveled to Katherine as well , a town in Australia’s Northern Territory,     5     (learn )about the customs and ways of life of the Aborigines, the native people of Australia.     6     their population may be small, their influence is still visible, as seen in the Aboriginal meaning of the name of Bondi Beach. The Aborigines’ close connection with nature is seen in their music, like the didgeridoo, which     7     (make) from a hollow tree branch and requires proper lip vibrations and air blowing techniques to play. I tried playing the didgeridoo but failed. As my trip comes to     8     close, I am most impressed by the multicultural influences that have shaped the unique Australian culture     9     (contribute) by immigrants and minorities. The warmth and     10     (friendly) of the Australian people have made me feel at home and I wholeheartedly agree with the tourism slogan, “There’s nothing like Australia”.