3 . The best day trips from Chicago

Making big travel plans can be difficult. Luckily, you don’t need a plane ticket or even a hotel reservation to have a fun change of lifestyle. A simple day trip from Chicago is cheap and easy. These quick trips from Chicago are just a few hours away by car or train.

Fennville

Many people wait until fall to go to western Michigan’s fruit belt. But there’s an area where you can go a couple of months earlier, when the stone fruits like peaches and cherries are ready for picking. The town of Fennville is a great base for tasting the region’s sweet fruit. You can also make your way to Salt of the Earth for wood-fired pizza and seasonal dishes.

South Bend

There’s a lot to enjoy in South Bend. Check out the city’s cultural side with an afternoon visit to the History Museum, which was once home to the family of a local industrialist and inventor—James Oliver. When you are hungry, head for Café Navarre, a restaurant housed in a repurposed 20th-century bank.

Madison

Located between two lakes, Madison is a city filled with beautiful sights in addition to all the cheese and beer you’ve heard so much about. Begin your visit with a special tour on two wheels. You can rent a bike, which allows you to make 30-minute trips around the city. Lake Monona is surrounded (环绕) by The Capital City path and along the path are plenty of stops where you can take wonderful photos of the skyline.

Gurnee

The village of Gurnee draws 23 million visitors each year. Start your day by having brunch at The Chocolate Sanctuary, where you can taste homemade bread with chocolate strawberries. Spend some time walking around Gurnee Mills, which has more than 160 stores selling everything from sporting goods to home decorations (装饰物).

1. What can visitors fully enjoy in Fennville?

A．Early fruits.	B．Beautiful stones.
C．Delicious coffee.	D．Traditional artworks.

2. What is a good choice for visitors to Madison according to the text?

A．Walking around historic buildings.	B．Going boating on Lake Monona.
C．Enjoying the lake views by bike.	D．Playing in a water park.

3. Which place is best suitable for shopping trips?

A．Fennville.

B．South Bend.

C．Madison.

D．Gurnee.

5 . Some people made a list of the best winter tourist destinations based on experts’ recommendation and readers’ votes, considering weather, crowds, seasonal events and other factors.

Cartagena

Located along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena is a warm winter attraction being filled with historical sites. If you long for more wonderful water views, take a boat to the nearby Rosario Islands. Winter is a popular time to visit, so you should book your flight and hotel several months earlier.

Auckland

December to February may be the priciest and most crowded time to visit, but the city’s inviting weather makes up for these drawbacks. Calm winds provide a perfect environment for adventurous activities like climbing, jumping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge and skydiving. For a more relaxing vacation, walk through the Cornwall Park.

Phuket

You may find higher accommodation prices and crowds of tourists, but winter visits to this Thai island in the Andaman Sea offer several advantages. Phuket features outstanding weather in winter. You’ll avoid the area’s monsoon (季风) season and enjoy warm temperatures while lying on the banks of beaches. Another advantage: You can get out on the water to explore surrounding islands by boat,

Québec City

Winters here are known for being downright cold, but this Canadian city’s beauty makes the visit worthwhile. Head to Old Québec to see historical buildings dressed out in magical Christmas decoration, then go ice skating at Place d’ Youyille. Time your visit for February when several winter celebrations, such as the Carnaval de Québec and the Mois Multi art festival, take place throughout the city.

1. Which destination should you make a preparation in advance?

A．Cartagena.

B．Auckland.

C．Phuket.

D．Québec City.

2. What do Auckland and Phuket have in common?

A．They feature unique architecture.

B．They are filled with historical sites.

C．They provide adventurous activities.

D．They both have pleasant weather.

3. What can you do in Québee City?

A．Try some extreme sports.	B．Appreciate ancient buildings.
C．Experience skydiving.	D．Take a boat to explore islands.

6 . Top 4 Promoted China Tours for 2023

These are our most popular four China tour routes, which visit all the classic sights. 80% of first-time travelers start their tailored-China-tour journey from these routes.

Route 1: 11-Day Tour: Beijing—Xi’an—Guilin/ Yangshuo—Shanghai

This 11-day China top cities tour covers the most popular four destinations and five World Heritage sites in China. It makes an ideal tour for first-time visitors who would like to discover   China’s history, culture, modernization and landscape.

Tour Price: US $3,100 per person.

Route 2: 11-Day Private Tour: Beijing—Xi’an—Guilin/ Yangshuo—Shanghai

A journey to China is truly an adventure, along with this ancient kingdom’s history, cultures, lifestyles and landscapes. We will help you spend quality time with your children, and help you all to discover more while experiencing China in a fun way. This 11-Day China Family Tour will let you have a time travel into the history and also to the future. It includes family-friendly activities and hotels.

Tour Price: US$2,570 per adult, US$1,949 per child (2- 11 years old) .

Route 3: 14-Day Private Tour: Beijing—Xi’an—Zhangjiajie—Guilin/Yangshuo—Shanghai

This 14-day natural wonders discovery tour covers the most important historical destinations and extraordinary scenery destinations in China. Discover with fun.

Tour Price: US $3,790 per person.

Route 4: 13-day Private Tour: Beijing—Xi’an—Chengdu —Yangtze Cruise—Shanghai

This 13-day suggested route covers different elements of China: the historical heritage sites, natural scenery, unique culture, and adorable giant pandas. It makes an ideal tour for first-time visitors who are panda fans or those travelling with children.

Tour Price: US $3,479 per person.

1. If a couple wants to go on Route 2 with their 8-year-old son, how much should they pay?

A．$2,570.

B．$7,089.

C．$4,519.

D．$5,140.

2. Which route would a panda fan prefer?

A．Route 1.

B．Route 2.

C．Route 3.

D．Route 4.

3. What do Route 2 and Route 4 have in common?

A．They both last 13 days.	B．They are suitable for children.
C．They are the most expensive ones.	D．They cover five World Heritage sites in China.

7 . The Most Bicycle Friendly Countries Around the World

Denmark

Cycling is a hugely popular means of transport and a way to see the country in Denmark. In fact, across the country you’ll find huge networks of cycle paths where no motorized vehicles (机动车辆)can go, so you can feel safe while riding your bike. Because of this cycling has become one of the main tourist attractions and activities in Denmark, particularly when it Comes to exploring the beautiful capital city of Copenhagen.

Norway

Because of the popularity of cycling here, you’ll find plenty of bicycle parking and public rentals (出租), so you can simply get a bike and go as you explore the country. Much like Denmark, the dedicated (专用的) bike lanes do not allow for cars or motorised vehicles to enter them.

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands the government prefer bikes to cars and encourage people to travel by bike as much as possible. If you’re a tourist visiting big cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, you can easily hire a bike and explore. There are bike lanes (and bikes) everywhere, they even have their own sets of traffic lights. Much like driving, there are strict rules for cycling in the country and these must obey.

Sweden

While it can get very cold there in the winter, cycling is still enjoyed year-round and the country develops a cycling culture that encourages people to use bikes as their primary means of transport. For this reason, there are supportive measures in place and plenty of places to rent a bike from. Many travel Sweden’s beautiful cities on two wheels, Stockholm, in particular, is a great place to explore on a bike.

What’s more, cycling is so big there that they have pump stations for deflated (泄气的) tires and bicycle-only parking. The use of electric bikes is also becoming more popular here.

1. Which city is suitable for a tourist to explore by bike in Denmark?

A．Copenhagen.

B．Amsterdam.

C．Rotterdam.

D．Stockholm.

2. What do Denmark and Norway have in common?

A．They have set strict rules for cycling.

B．Their main tourist attraction is cycling.

C．They allow visitors to rent bikes for free.

D．They have the dedicated cycle paths or bike lanes.

3. What can a visitor easily find in Sweden?

A．The use of electric cars.	B．Warm weather in winter.
C．Pump stations for deflated tires.	D．Free bicycle-only parking places.

8 . Santiago has visited Machu Picchu many times and knows the best time to arrive. This is before the first train of the day arrives from Ollantaytambo. We boarded our bus and headed up the mountain! As we climbed and climbed, it was easy to imagine how the Spanish failed to discover Machu Picchu during their travels up and down along the Urubamba River far below. The site sits over 7,000 feet high on a mountain top and plants hide it from view.

In the early 1900s, the site was not as much rediscovered as it was made famous by Hiram Bingham, an explorer who was looking for the hidden city of the Incas. In fact, local farmers were using part of Machu Picchu to grow food at the time. No one knows for sure what Machu Picchu was used for or when and why the site was abandoned(遗弃). These questions will likely never be answered. However, what is known for sure is that it was an amazing creation!

As we entered Machu Picchu, we had an opportunity to take the famous “postcard picture” thanks to Santiago. There wasn’t one question that he did not have an answer for. He seemed very conscious(有意识的)of our limited time and wanted to make sure we got the most out of our visit. We had a chance to visit an ancient drawbridge(开合桥). This tested my fear of heights as the drop-off at some points was close to 2,000 feet straight down. In fact, the trail became too dangerous to go any further so we made our way back to the main site and had plenty of time to take great photos there.

After Santiago was satisfied we had seen much as we could, we took the bus back to Aguas Calientes.

1. Why did the author mention the Spanish in paragraph 1?

A．To show that Machu Picchu was difficult to find.

B．To describe how Machu Picchu was damaged.

C．To discuss how valuable Machu Picchu is.

D．To explain why Machu Picchu is attractive.

2. How does the author describe Machu Picchu?

A．It was well protected by local people.

B．It was not as good as she expected.

C．It was hidden by the Incas.

D．It was a great human creation.

3. When the author stood on the drawbridge, she was probably ________.

A．tired

B．fearful

C．excited

D．surprised

4. What can we infer about Santiago?

A．He lives in Machu Picchu.	B．He knows Machu Picchu well.
C．He comes from Spain.	D．He is a local farmer.

9 . Newsweek has released a list of 100 famous spots in its latest issue and says all of them may not exist in the future because of various reasons.

Kauai, Hawaii, U. S.

Kauai is the oldest and fourth largest of Hawaiian Islands. Most of this island lies in the mist (雾 气) all year round. The thick forests are home to the colorful Hawaiian honeycreeper, an endangered bird species. Even the tiny fall or rise of the sea level will cause large changes on the island, which put the island’s ecosystem under severe stress.

Caribbean Sea

Four types of endangered sea turtles (龟) live here. The rising sea levels and the pollution of the oceans can destroy the beach, where the female sea turtles lay eggs. Unlike other animals, the sex of a sea turtle depends on the temperature at which the turtle hatches (孵化). The temperature for female sea turtles to hatch is above 31℃, and male below 27.7℃. Scientists worry the cut of male turtles can threaten the species’ survival.

Recife, Brazil

Recife in northeastern Brazil is a business center and also a great destination of tourists, who visit here for the sunny weather and white-sand beaches. Due to its nonstop coastal development, now Recife is highly weak to the threats of rising sea levels, hurricanes and storms. The reduce of coral reefs (珊瑚礁) also exposes the whole city to flooding.

Chicago, Illinois, U. S.

Since founded in the 1830s, the “Windy City” Chicago has become the center of transportation, industry, finance and entertainment in the Midwest of U.S. Nowadays, more than 2.6 million residents live in the modern area, making it the third most populous city in U.S. In the coming years, Chicago will suffer from gradual increase in heat waves and flooding.

1. What is the climate like on Kauai?

A．Sunny.

B．Dry.

C．Foggy.

D．Changeable.

2. What can cause the unequal rate between male and female turtles?

A．The global warming.

B．The rising sea levels.

C．The gradual disappearance of their habitats.

D．The female sea turtles stopping laying eggs.

3. What do the four places have in common?

A．They are home to honeycreepers.

B．They are endangered coastal areas.

C．They are faced with overpopulation.

D．They are free from human activities.

10 . 假设你是李华，你的英国网友David假期想和你一起去杭州旅行，并请你制定旅行计划。请你给他写一封电子邮件，内容包括：
1. 在杭州的行程安排；
2. 见面的时间、地点。
注意：1.词数：80左右；
2.开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：the West Lake 西湖
XiXi Wetland 西溪湿地
the Silk Museum丝绸博物馆
Dear David,

I can’t wait to visit Hangzhou with you during the vacation.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours,

Li Hua