1 . Friends always ask why I, a middle-aged woman with no athletic (运动) talent (天赋), travel to perilous places — the jungles (丛林) of Thailand or Borneo, for example, where the water is often unsafe and the food risky; places with infectious diseases, poisonous snakes and the wildest animals.
I never know how to answer. Nine years ago I suffered a stroke (中风). To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me, I’d have to take dangerously high levels of blood thinner (血液稀释剂) for the rest of my life and any travel would be risky (冒险的).
I had to think about what was important to me: family, of course, and friends. But then what? No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not be happy without travel. Then I had to decide how I might manage the risk.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband, Jack, on a business trip to China. After we’d toured the remains of a Tang dynasty temple on a high mountain, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (长雪橇).
Before the stroke it would’ve seemed like fun. But now? I hesitated. My mental klaxon (高音喇叭) screamed warnings about the consequences of a cut, a fall, and a crash. Then, gaining confidence from who knew where, I lowered myself carefully into the toboggan, which marked my adventure (冒险) travel come back.
In the years since then, I’ve traveled about twenty-five percent of the time. Through it all, my lucks held out — no deadly falls, no car accidents or serious infections. For me, adventure travel is a risk worth taking. Travel broadens my world and keeps me connected to nature. What’s more, saying “yes” to travel keeps me connected to myself.
1. What does the underlined word “perilous” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Energetic. | B．Dangerous. | C．Romantic | D．Famous. |
| A．Do proper exercise. | B．Enjoy the rest of her life. |
| C．Spend more time with her family | D．Keep away (远离) from traveling |
| A．It was her last adventure. | B．She recovered (恢复) her courage (勇气) through it. |
| C．She liked the beautiful scenery in China. | D．It was the most dangerous experience in her life. |
| A．A business trip to China | B．Stroke, a dangerous disease |
| C．How I overcame the fear of disease | D．Why I still travel to the wild |
2 . “You are about to experience something very special,” the card on my bed reads.
I’m about to start one of the most
It’s been my longtime
I’m as
The elephants finally
The stars begin to look through the sky, and it’s very peaceful. The three elephants are
I drink my coffee and
| A．unusual | B．awful | C．dangerous | D．popular |
| A．also | B．even | C．just | D．once |
| A．notice | B．remember | C．introduce | D．experience |
| A．excited | B．careful | C．thankful | D．important |
| A．chance | B．ability | C．job | D．wish |
| A．dreamed of | B．jumped at | C．threw away | D．worried about |
| A．stupid | B．happy | C．shy | D．proud |
| A．empty | B．boring | C．relaxing | D．strange |
| A．watch | B．feed | C．look for | D．play with |
| A．guides | B．neighbors | C．relatives | D．guards |
| A．discover | B．enter | C．check | D．leave |
| A．crazy | B．tired | C．close | D．big |
| A．talk | B．regret | C．agree | D．listen |
| A．quicker | B．simpler | C．safer | D．better |
| A．hole | B．window | C．ball | D．card |
3 . Madagascar, the world’s second-largest island country located off Africa’s eastern coast, is an island of diverse ecosystems and a biodiversity hotspot. The country has unique wildlife, with 90% of its plants and animals found nowhere else. Madagascar’s wildlife creates some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and popular spots. One of its conspicuous landscapes, attracting tourists from almost all corners of the Earth, is the Avenue of the Baobabs in the Menabe region. This avenue is made up of numerous baobab trees along the dirt road linking Belon’i Tsiribihina and Morondava, creating a unique and beautiful setting.
Baobab trees are common throughout Madagascar. Of the Earth’s eight species, six are native to the country. Some of the baobabs in the country are about 2, 800 years old, with trunks rising to 150 feet. The avenue is a row of about 25 baobabs stretching about 260 meters. Other baobab trees are also found in the nearby pastures (牧草地). This road is one of Madagascar’s most visited places. It is also the most accessible place to see some of Africa’s oldest baobabs. These trees were once part of a forest that was made up of other plants. However, massive deforestation cleared the area of most trees, leaving the baobabs to grow alone.
The baobab trees along the road and the other species growing in the nearby areas are always under constant threat from the increasing population. The trees also face threats from polluted water from the nearby fields, forest fires, and bushfires. Despite being a popular tourist attraction, the Avenue of the Baobabs has no admission fee or visitor center and generates little money for local communities.
Thankfully, non-governmental organizations in partnership with the government have noticed the area and developed activities to protect the avenue. The Ministry of Environment, Ecology, and Forests declared it a temporary protected area in July 2007. In July 2015, the site was declared a national monument (国家保护区), the first in Madagascar. The government and local communities hope the trees can survive for additional 800 years.
1. What does the underlined word “conspicuous” in the first paragraph mean?| A．New. | B．Cultural. | C．Striking. | D．Changing. |
| A．It is a big forest. | B．It has eight baobab species. |
| C．It consists of many different plants. | D．It has Africa’s oldest baobabs. |
| A．The risk to local baobab trees. |
| B．Natural disasters in Madagascar. |
| C．Poor living conditions in Madagascar. |
| D．The quality customer service of the avenue. |
| A．Curiosity. | B．Caution. | C．Hopefulness. | D．Sympathy. |
The Great Wall, running for more than 20,000 kilometers, is a historical landmark with worldwide fame, but
However, a WeChat miniprogram, Great Wall E-tour, is allowing every enthusiast to be a hero in a virtual world, in
Liu Yuzhu, head of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, says “We made documentaries and published animated books in the past. These are popular, but the Great Wall is
As a Chinese, I feel extremely proud.
Hangzhou, the only candidate city of the 2022 Asian Games, won the bid on September 16th, 2015. Thus, it will be the third Chinese city
Hangzhou is a beautiful city
In the next few years, Hangzhou will try its best to prepare
6 . Exploring Jaipur’s Art and Design Scenes
City Palace
Still home to the royal family of Jaipur, this 300-year-old palace has lost none of its grandeur (壮观). The complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings is a mixture of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Among other things, the thoughtfully decorated museum houses an extensive textile (纺织品) collection, featuring rich fabrics as well as a carpet dating back over 400 years.
Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing
Situated in a restored old house, the Anokhi Museum is the perfect introduction to Jaipur’s textile industry. Information boards are excellently written, and the clothing on display is impressive. Don’t miss the on-site shop. Combine a visit with a trip to the UNESCO-listed Amber Fort, a remarkable walled castle that rises above the city and is only a five-minute ride from the museum.
Block Printing Project
Feel creative? A workshop is a great way to get a feel for the printing process. You’ll work alongside local craftsmen (工作), choosing your own blocks and colours. There are scores of companies providing the experience, but consider one of the sessions offered by the Wabisabi Project, which include a field trip and black tea to keep that creative energy flowing.
Jawahar Kala Kendra Centre
Just outside the Old City, Jaipur’s most important cultural centre was built to preserve Rajasthan’s rich heritage and master craftsmanship. Showing a wide range of both traditional and contemporary art, the space houses six galleries, as well as a museum, a library and an open-air theatre with programmes from plays to Indian folk dance. It also hosts its own theatre festival.
1. What can visitors enjoy at City Palace?| A．An age-old carpet. | B．An open-air theatre. |
| C．A local gallery. | D．A walled castle. |
| A．Indian folk dance. | B．Hands-on experience. |
| C．The UNESCO-listed site. | D．The royal family of Jaipur. |
| A．City Palace. | B．Block Printing Workshop. |
| C．Jawahar Kala Kendra Centre. | D．Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. |
7 . Bangkok (曼谷) developed around the Chao Phraya River. Many of the city’s hotels sit along the river. The areas of Siam and Ratchaprasong are the core of tourist Bangkok. Sukhumvit Road is home to mall after mall filled with every kind of shop.
For the best value, luxury (奢华的) hotels in the Bang Rak and Sathorn Districts are great choices since the area is more popular for office buildings than tourists. The Sathorn Vista, Bangkok is a perfect example. There are several restaurants, a full gym, a beautiful poo1 and outdoor areas.
Traditionally, the Khao San Road area has been the center of Bangkok budget lodging (住宿) and this is still true today. The Dang Derm Hotel on Khao San Road has clean, large rooms and a really nice rooftop pool. If you’re on a budget but want to stay riverside, try the Ibis Bangkok Riverside, whose contents are always clean and well-managed. The riverside location is close to the ferry, and its location a bit south of the main tourist area gets you very low prices.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is a great family hotel. The hotel, which has buildings on both sides of the Chao Phraya river, has been providing accommodation to travelers since 1876. For families there are a number of connecting room choices, and the hotel is also responsible for bringing in extra beds for children. There is a kids’ club on-site, and parents can even sign older kids up for cooking classes. Another good option for families is Ariyasom villa. This downtown Bangkok small hotel also offers a pleasant place in the city. It is set inside a beautiful garden and is a lovely change from the disorder of the city.
1. In which area of Bangkok can you find a hotel on a budget?| A．The Sukhumvit Road. | B．The Khao San Road area. |
| C．The Siam and Ratchaprason areas. | D．The Bang Rak and Sathorn Districts. |
| A．A quiet garden-like environment. | B．Registered kid schooling classes. |
| C．Room-connecting choices. | D．Wonderful economica1 lodging. |
| A．Two | B．Three | C．Four | D．Five |
| A．choice. | B．function. | C．power. | D．course. |
1．曾经的情景(景美、水清、鱼儿 鸭子嬉戏、游客多)；
2．后来的状况(湖水污染、游客乱扔垃圾)；
3．当地政府已经采取措施来拯救，净月潭又恢复了美丽。
注意：
1．词数80左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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The Giant Panda National Park,
In Wannian Village, however, the news
For decades, mining and hydropower (水电) were the main industries in Wannian. The projects were
There only appeared to be one way out: turning the village
Local officials
10 . Holidaymakers who are bored with baking beaches and overheated hotel rooms head for a big igloo (冰屋). Swedish businessman Nile Bergqvist is delighted with his new hotel, the world’s first igloo hotel. Built in a small town in Lapland, it has been attracting lots of visitors, but soon the fun will be over.
In two weeks’ time Bergqvist’s ice creation (作品) will be nothing more than a pool of water. “We don’t see it as a big problem,” he says. “We just look forward to replacing it.”
Bergqvist built his first igloo in 1991 for an art exhibition. It was so successful that he designed the present one, which measures roughly 200 square meters. Six workmen spent more than eight weeks piling 1,000 tons of snow onto a wooden base: when the snow froze, the base was removed. “The only wooden thing we have left in the igloo is the front door.” he says.
After their stay, all visitors receive a survival certificate recording their success. With no windows, nowhere to hang clothes and temperatures below 0℃, it may seem more like a survival test than a relaxing hotel break. “It’s great fun,” Bergqvist explains, “as well as a good start in survival training.”
The popularity of the igloo is beyond doubt: it is now attracting tourists from all over the world. At least 800 people have stayed at the igloo this season even though there are only 10 rooms. “You can get a lot of people in,” explains Bergqvist, “The beds are three meters wide by two meters long, and can fit at least four at one time.”
1. What inspired Bergqvist to create the world’s first igloo hotel?| A．Growing demand for more hotel rooms. | B．People’s curiosity for new things. |
| C．His being fond of living in a small town. | D．An art exhibition to be held |
| A．Hotel guests will lose interest soon. | B．A more fascinating one will replace the old one |
| C．The igloo will turn into a pool of water. | D．No visitors will come here. |
| A．The Igloo may melt and fall down. | B．You may lose your life. |
| C．Because its condition is extremely poor. | D．You have nothing to eat. |
| A．Horrible. | B．Regretful. | C．Comfortable. | D．Excited. |
