1 . It’s been 150 years this summer since building work was completed on the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. When it was completed, Tsar Nicholas I, the ruler of Russia, called it “a dream in stone”.
Important buildings have been built on this site for more than 1, 000 years. In the early 8th century, a church was built that became known as the West Minster. In the 11th century it was the location of a royal residence (王室宅邸). This was the first Palace of Westminster. The first official Parliament met there in 1295. Work on the palace continued until 1834, when the building was destroyed by fire.
In 1835, the architect Charles Barry was picked to design the Parliament building in a style known as “Gothic Revival”. Another architect, Augustus Pugin, helped with the inner part. The work overran and the costs rose to three times more than planned. According to one historian it cost £2.3 million — which in today’s money is more than £4 billion. It finally reopened in 1870.
The Houses of Parliament are once again considered to be a serious fire risk. Small fires broke out 40 times between 2008 and 2012 and a fire safety team has to be on site. A report in 2016 said that maintaining the building was like “trying to fill a bathtub with a thimble (顶针) while the water is flowing out of the plughole (排水孔) at the other end”. In 2018, Parliament held discussions over its restoration and decided that its members would have to move out of the building during its refurbishment (翻新).
The plan is for everyone to move out by 2025 when the restoration will begin. It is said that it will cost around £4 billion and be completed by the early 2030s. The plans include taking away all fire risks, restoring the stonework and repairing around 4,000 windows.
1. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?A.The West Minster was a popular place for tourists. |
B.The site of the Parliament building is historic. |
C.Building the Parliament building took a long time. |
D.People had different reasons to build a palace in Westminster. |
A.It cost less than expected. |
B.It was completed on time. |
C.It was being rebuilt for more than 30 years. |
D.It was designed by Augustus Pugin alone. |
A.A great fire risk. |
B.No safety team. |
C.A shortage of money. |
D.No restoration workers. |
A.By analyzing causes. |
B.By giving descriptions. |
C.By following time order. |
D.By making comparisons. |
2 . The huge high rises, loud noises, and masses of people make up a symbolic United States destination and the city millions of people call home. Winding your way through the streets of New York City is an overwhelming and humbling (令人谦卑的) experience.
Walking down these busy streets you are sure to see several different coffee shops where writers with dreams are typing away or perhaps old friends catch up as they drink. Next, there are the classic pizzerias where many love to go to get a slice of New York style pizza. Another city classic are the popular delis, a favorite quick and easy lunch hot spot.
A valued aspect (方面) of the city streets is the artistic attraction they hold. Brushes of color brighten up the modern buildings. The buildings become an artist’s studio where creativity comes to life, beautifying the city and showing social and political expressions.
There is nothing more American than a street in New York City.
A.The beautiful variety brings life into the city. |
B.The energy they give off will be sure to inspire you. |
C.These streets are known for their variety of great food. |
D.An additional form of art that fills these streets is music. |
E.The many aspects of the urban culture are there on the street. |
F.A huge benefit of the city life is the diverse transportation choices. |
G.You become one tiny fish in the deep depths of the ocean once entering. |
3 . Museums become the next stop many students want to visit at their leisure.
Have you ever started your visit by waiting in line in front of the museum for a few hours just to get in? And that’s the sad reality when visiting many of those world-famous museums. Thus, be smart to browse the instructions for visiting and book in advance online.
What if you don’t like some museums? Then don’t visit them! I’m not a massive fan of parks, so I would hardly ever end up in any park while travelling.
There is nothing worse than impolite manners while visiting. We’ve all witnessed that guy being yelled at by the security for touching or taking flash photos.
All of these ground rules are often neglected by us. Bear them in mind before setting off, and you will enjoy your museum tour!
A.It’s the same with the museums |
B.But most of them do it all wrong |
C.If you haven’t, don’t let it be you |
D.That way you can have an easy access |
E.The first step is to research how to enjoy everything |
F.Sometimes you may sigh museum tiredness is a real thing |
G.Generally, there is no right or wrong way to visit a museum |
1. 推荐的城市;2. 推荐理由;3. 你的祝愿。
注意:(1) 词数80左右,可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
(2) 开头语已为你写好,不计入总词数。
Dear Paul,
I’m so delighted to know that you will come to visit China.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5 . Follow this four-day route, and you’ll lose yourself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
Day 1 Overview Edinburgh
It was in Scotland’s capital city that J. K. Rowling started to plot the adventures of Harry and his pals. With stoned streets, winding alleys and medieval (中世纪的) architecture, the city certainly has a few things in common with the settings from the books and films. She wrote the early chapters in various cafes around the city’s Old Towns.
Day 2 Overview travel to Fort William
Travel by train from Edinburgh to Glasgow. From there, you can take the West Highland Line toFort William. This is a great way to see some famous spots from the window, including the mysterious Rannoch Moor, the place where Death Eaters board the train in the movie Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.
Day 3 Overview all aboard the Hogwarts Express
Witness the sweeping cinematic scenery of the movie Harry Potter by booking a seat on the Jacobite Steam Train. Stop for lunch in Mallaig and then make the return journey to Fort William. Please be sure to book the steam train in advance, as it is exceedingly popular. By the way, it runs seasonally.
Day 4 Overview lakes and glens (峡谷)
In the films, mysterious, misty landscapes frame the background of Harry’s tale, so it’s no surprise that the film producers chose the Highlands for many scenes. Spend a day wandering through some of these beautiful spots and feel the magical atmosphere.
1. Where did J. K. Rowling create Harry Potter at first?A.In Edinburgh. | B.In Mallaig. |
C.In Glasgow. | D.In Fort William. |
A.Reviewing the movie early. |
B.Booking tickets in advance. |
C.Bringing lunch ahead of time. |
D.Buying one-way ticket specially. |
A.Current Affairs. | B.Technology. |
C.Tours. | D.Biography. |
6 . Travel is an important part of your life, and it will make a comeback soon. Here are the most powerful benefits of traveling, including health, happiness, and more!
Travel can contribute to your happiness.
Travel relieves stress and anxiety. According to a trial conducted by Austrian researchers and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, one of the great travel benefits is that it can reduce stress level and anxiety. Even just one short vacation has positive effects on your emotions.
Travel enables you to experience new things. When you travel, you are stepping outside your comfort zone, for one thing.
Travel can improve your creativity. Are you a student, artist, writer, photographer, advertising manager, or video game designer struggling with coming up with your next great idea?
A.Travel makes you healthy. |
B.Travel can improve brain activity. |
C.An outing enables you to get away from daily things. |
D.You are still experiencing new things, for another thing. |
E.And the good effects last quite a while after you get home. |
F.Don’t come up with new ideas on the journey to foreign countries. |
G.No matter who you are, travel can help you become more creative. |
Museum Day is here for one day and one day only — so you’ll need to hurry if you want to take advantage of the chance to get free Saturday admission to one of the hundreds of participating museums.
The yearly event is hosted by Smithsonian Magazine and involves museums and cultural institutions coming together to offer free admission for patrons(顾客) who would otherwise have to pay for entry.
You just need an email address to get a ticket
To get a ticket you’ll need to go to the Smithsonian Magazine website and pick which museum you want to go to. You’ll be able to search to see which museums near you are participating, and from there you just have to put in your email address and name. After that, you can download your ticket and head out for some fun.
A lot of museums are still feeling financial stress from the pandemic
The event is happening as museums are still struggling from the hits they took during the first few years of the pandemic.
The American Alliance of Museums estimated it will take years for museums to fully recover. In February, the group released survey results that detailed those financial losses.
AAM President and CEO Laura Lott noted that federal relief helped remove the threat of closure that many institutions were facing, but 2022 proved to be another painful year.
But there’s hope that a free day at the museums might spark subsequent(随后的) visits.
1. How often is Museum Day held?A.Once a week. | B.Once a month. | C.Once a year. | D.Once a day. |
A.To go to the nearest museum. | B.To buy Smithsonian Magazine. |
C.To enter your email address and name. | D.To be a member of Smithsonian Magazine. |
A.It will help people deal with stress. | B.It will make museums more famous. |
C.It can help museums to fully recover. | D.It may attract more visitors to museums. |
8 . Up to now, UNESCO has granted official recognition to over 800 cultural sites that are thought to be specially significant to human history and culture. Among them are the following four.
The Taj Mahal
It was built between 1631 and 1648, known as a masterpiece of architecture. It took over 20,000 workers and 1,000 elephants to complete the project. In the early 17th century, an emperor named Shah Jahan ruled India. The emperor loved his wife Mumtaz so much that when she died, he built the Taj Mahal in her memory. The beautiful mausoleum (陵墓) was designed to look like what the emperor hoped would be Mumtaz’s home in the afterlife.
The Temple and Mansion of Confucius
Located in Qufu, Shandong Province, the temple is a memorial to Confucius, the Chinese great educator. On the grounds, there are more than 900 halls and rooms. But the building that people visit most is the Temple of Confucius. Originally built in 478 BC, the temple has been rebuilt many times. Besides the temple, visitors can enjoy the grounds outside, where there are more than 1,000 stone tablets (碑碣) and over 100, 000 tombs.
The Imperial Tombs of the Qing and Ming Dynasties
Built by several emperors between 1368 and 1915 in Beijing, Hubei, Hebei and Liaoning, the Imperial Tombs represent Chinese cultural and historical values that have been handed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. What makes them unique even among amazing buildings such as Angkor Wat (吴哥窟) and the Cologne Cathedral (科隆大教堂) is that they bring together architecture and philosophy.
The Terracotta Army
In 1974, while some Chinese farmers were digging a well, they accidentally found a tomb, where they found more than 8,000 statues. They were said to be made in the third century BC to guard the tomb of the Chinese Emperor Qinshihuang! More than 700,000 people worked for nearly 40 years to build this tomb! It is recognized as one of the greatest archaeological findings in the world.
1. ________ can be viewed as a labor of love.A.The Temple and Mansion of Confucius | B.The Terracotta Army |
C.The Imperial Tombs of the Qing and Ming Dynasties | D.The Taj Mahal |
A.The Temple and Mansion of Confucius | B.The Terracotta Army. |
C.The Imperial Tombs of the Qing and Ming Dynasties | D.The Taj Mahal |
A.They are located in China. |
B.They are World Cultural Heritage Sites. |
C.They are archaeological wonders. |
D.They were built in honor of a famous person. |
During China’s dynastic period, emperors planned the city of Beijing
In the Ming Dynasty, the center was the Forbidden City,
Hutongs represent an important cultural element of the city of Beijing. Thanks to Beijing’s long history
10 . Are you looking for some good places for you and your four-leg friend? Here are some for you.
Tahmoor Gorge (峡谷)
The number and quality of swimming holes in this valley immediately take us back to some of our favourite places in Kakadu national park. The only difference here is that you don’t need a four-wheel drive, so the best way togo to the gorge is walking. This pet-friendly walk follows the Bargo River through an open gorge that gradually drops to a deep gorge. It is a popular place for locals on weekends. The further you run into the gorge, the less people there are.
Sirius Cove, Mosman
Sirius Cove is one of many quietly beautiful places along the Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach walking trail (路线). The deep, U-shaped bay, with a large grassy area, is popular with picnicking families and their dogs.
Kutti Beach, Vaucluse
We heard about it from a friend, but it is so hidden that it is not easy to find the entrance. Follow Wharf Road until it dead ends at the Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Club. Go right up to the building and look left. There is a very narrow set of stairs leading to the beach. Go down the steps and open the gate at the bottom. Follow the narrow road along the wall to the sand. The best bit? It’s dog-friendly.
MacKenzies Beach, Tamarama
From whale watching hot place MacKenzies Point, follow the sloped (斜的) road to MacKenzies Beach, a dog-friendly, short-time beach that only appears every couple of years when the right combination (结合) of wind and sand on the normal rocky reef. They say you aren’t a local until you’ve seen sand at MacKenzies.
1. What do we know about Tahmoor Gorge?A.It’s a must to drive there. |
B.It’s a popular place on weekdays. |
C.It’s a good way to go there on foot. |
D.It’s a popular place for foreign visitors. |
A.Tahmoor Gorge. | B.Kutti Beach, Vaucluse. |
C.Sirius Cove, Mosman. | D.MacKenzies Beach, Tamarama. |
A.They are beside the sea. |
B.They are dog-friendly. |
C.They are places where whales are seen. |
D.They are open to the public only on weekends. |