1 . Located about 10 km northeast of the city center, the Chengdu Panda Base is a popular place to see lots of pandas of different ages in what’s close to their natural habitat.
Highlights and Travel Tips
The Chengdu Panda Base is a nonprofit research and breeding (繁殖) facility for giant pandas that was originally founded in 1987 and opened to the public in 1993. The center began with a population of just six giant pandas and has since grown to more than 100 pandas.
For visitors, it is more like a nice park than a traditional zoo. The base is large and nice to walk around, since much of it is in a bamboo forest. There are also shops selling panda-related souvenirs, but the prices are usually higher than markets or shops outside the base.
Accessibility Information
While the main road is flat, the base is large, so it is better for visitors with mobility issues to ride the shuttle (往返) bus. Visitors who completely rely on wheelchairs may need help from others to guide. Most restrooms within the base are wheelchair accessible.
Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
| Opening hours | 7:30 am - 6:00 pm |
| Entrance fee | 55 CNY |
| Shuttle bus fee | 10 CNY |
| Average time for this activity | 2-3 hours |
How to Get There
It takes about a half hour and costs around 30 CNY to get to the Chengdu Panda Base from the city center by taxi. You can also get there by public bus or subway, although these routes require a few transfers.
1. What is special about the Chengdu Panda Base?| A．It offers tourists panda souvenirs. | B．It is a zoo with the features of a park. |
| C．It is the largest panda research base. | D．It has more pandas than anywhere else. |
| A．110 CNY. | B．75 CNY. | C．55 CNY. | D．45 CNY. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A news report. |
| C．An announcement. | D．An exhibition guide. |
2 . There are some amazing places to visit across the world, so get ready to put clothes into a bag in preparation for a trip away from home.
Italy
Italy continues to delight and no matter how many times you may have visited, there’s always something new to uncover. Discover beautiful lakeside towns near Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake—it’s also the perfect base if you’re looking to take tours to the wonderful cities of Venice and Verona.
Spain
Whether it’s the wonderful Spanish weather you’re after, or to experience the country’s culture, cuisine (菜肴), art and history, there’s something for everyone in this fantastic place. There are also plenty of tours from Tenerife, with Mount Teide and the UNESCO World Heritage Site (联合国教科文组织世界遗产地) of San Cristeóbal de La Laguna in easy distance for a visit.
Portugal
From the noticeable city of Porto to the beautiful beaches of the Algarve, whether you want to enjoy culture or relaxation, you’ll find it all and more with a trip to Portugal. Holidays to the Algarve are some of the most popular in Europe and for good reason. It is an area full of fascinating culture and history, charming towns and villages and superb cuisine.
Malta
It is one of the smallest countries in the world, but Malta is a huge shock. With a fascinating mixture of history, culture, golden sandy beaches and wonderful weather, it’s a place just waiting to be explored.
1. What is special about Italy?| A．It has a long history. | B．There are golden sandy beaches. |
| C．It has fascinating culture and history. | D．There are many towns built near Lake Garda. |
| A．Italy. | B．Spain. | C．Portugal. | D．Malta. |
| A．People who like to travel. | B．People who like to eat. |
| C．People who love animals. | D．People who walk on the beach. |
3 . Listed below are some nice family-friendly museums in Chicago, pick one that interests your kids most and take your little ones there to have fun.
Shedd Aquarium (水族馆)
It was open to the public on May 30th, 1930. Visitors with limited movement can use easy slopes (斜坡) to reach the exhibits, which are also explained to children through an app.Families can spend the night in the aquarium during the special event called Asleep with the Fishes.
Elmhurst History Museum
It’s a museum about history that has won awards and was created in 1957. It shows different exhibits about many history-related subjects, has a fun interactive exhibit about its own history, and offers various public programs, tours of exhibits, and special events for the community. The museum is a fantastic place for families to visit for a day or two, and it even has places for picnics and holiday train journeys.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Founded in 1982, the museum displays impressive exhibits for children, featuring dinosaur bones, a play area only for babies and a famous and fun climbing area for children.Moreover, the museum offers various exhibitions and daily art classes for children, which are free of charge. Visiting the museum on the weekend is a good choice for economical family amusement.
Field Museum of Natural History
With millions of things in its store, it was established in 1893. Disco ver more than 4billion years of life on Earth through interesting displays and interactive events, and discover protection campaigns worldwide. It is now considered as famous as the Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846 in Washington, and the American Museum of Natural History, which originated in 1869 in New York.
1. What is special about the Shedd Aquarium for family visitors?| A．They can go on a picnic there. |
| B．They can sleep overnight there. |
| C．They can surf the Internet. |
| D．They can learn the history of Chicago. |
| A．Have discounts on holidays. | B．Watch dolphins’ exhibitions. |
| C．Take a fun climb. | D．Take free art classes on an app. |
| A．Shedd Aquarium. | B．ElmhurstHistoryMuseum. |
| C．Chicago Children’s Museum. | D．Field Museum of Natural History. |
Applause (掌声) rang across Zhaxizom town last month. The air was filled
“I planned
Migmar Lhamo, a college student
According to the county government, more activities such as live music shows, firework displays and food fairs
5 . 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. |
| 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. |
| A．Less than 100 years old. | B．About 500 years old. |
| C．About 1, 000 years old. | D．Nearly 2, 000 years old. |
| A．A famous park. | B．Historical palaces. |
| C．An unforgettable legend. | D．Ancient architectural styles. |
6 . Traveling can be expensive. But there are some ways to save money when traveling. Try some of the advice below on your next vacation and your wallet will thank you.
Look for city tourism cards. With the card, you can pay less at restaurants and shops. You don’t have to wait for a long time at busy attractions. You might even get free tickets to top tourist attractions. City tourism cards can save your money and time without question.
Don’t get the best room. How long will you stay in your room? Will you just be sleeping there? Do you really need a bigger room with a good view (景色)?
Find a hotel outside a city. It can help you save some money by choosing a hotel away from big tourist attractions, for you are always doing the same — go to the attractions and then return to your hotel to sleep.
Book (预订) a room with a kitchen. Although some people might not like to cook while on vacation, I don’t mind making breakfast in my room. We always eat at a nice restaurant on our last night of the vacation. I’d rather eat breakfast and lunch at the hotel and then spend much money on a delicious supper.
1. With ________, you can pay less at restaurants and shops.| A．ID cards | B．tourism cards | C．bank cards | D．phone cards |
| A．旅游方式 | B．旅游设施 | C．旅游手册 | D．旅游景点 |
| A．How to save money when traveling. |
| B．How to get a tourism card. |
| C．How to find a hotel outside a city. |
| D．How to book a room on the Internet. |
7 . Serbia is one of the most affordable destinations in Europe. Here are some beautiful places in Serbia that you can pay a visit to.
Mountain Avala
Overlooking Belgrade and topped with the Avala Tower in the Balkans, Mountain Avala is a must-visit spot that makes for a pleasant break from the capital’s busy streets. The Avala Tower is a tall telecommunication tower in this area which was rebuilt in 2010, offering the picture-perfect whole view over Belgrade from viewing platforms and a cafe for visitors.
Museum of Srem
The regional museum in the town of Sremska Mitrovica has a valuable collection in prehistoric, Roman and medieval periods. Its highlights are the numerous archaeological findings from Sremska Mitrovica, including a unique Roman sundial (日晷) with the sculptures of some figures.
The Gallery of Matica Srpska
The Gallery of Matica Srpska is one of the most significant and lasting cultural institutions in Serbia. It’s not a mere gallery but rather a national treasure, with several floors covering priceless Serbian artworks from the late 17th to the 20th century in different styles with countless landscapes and graphic art and more.
Uvac Special Nature Reserve
The spectacular meanders of the Uvac River are the highlights of the Uvac Special Nature Reserve in southwestern Serbia. The incredibly green river snakes through rocks in a zigzag manner—a feat of nature that is best admired from high above. The reserve, which also comprises a 6-kilometer-long cave system, owes its protected status to several hundred plant species, many types of fishes and rare bird species.
1. What can visitors do in the Avala Tower?| A．Visit an art gallery. |
| B．See a unique sundial. |
| C．Have a good view of the landscapes. |
| D．Admire artworks at the viewing platform. |
| A．Cultural treasures. | B．Unique rocks. |
| C．Old floors. | D．Modern sculptures. |
| A．A protected statue. | B．A water system. |
| C．A green river. | D．A wildlife museum. |
8 . Debra Dolan was 21 and on her first trip alone when she first sent a postcard to herself. It was 1979, and Dolan, who grew up in central Canada, was visiting Vancouver for the first time. She was immediately blown away by the city’s beauty.
Although she was usually an enthusiastic diarist, Dolan was swept up in the excitement of the trip, and found she barely had a free moment. “I thought, ‘I don’t have time to write in my journal.’ And I didn’t travel with a camera,” Dolan said. “So when I went to Vancouver Island, or saw places in Vancouver, I determined, ‘I’ll just send a postcard to myself.’”
On the back of each card, Dolan wrote a paragraph or two about her impressions, thoughts and feelings, and then mailed it to her home address. Some 10 days later, Dolan returned home to a pile of postcards from herself. Receiving them, said Dolan, was “an absolute joy.”
“After I’d come to Vancouver, I realized, ‘Well, it’s easy to travel. And it’s easy to travel alone. I don’t have to be nervous about this,’” said Dolan. So she decided exploring the world was her first priority. From there, Dolan traveled on to Australia. Then she stayed on the road for months, traveling around the globe and writing postcards to herself.
Over about forty years, 64-year-old Dolan has sent hundreds of postcards to herself from trips across the world. Amazingly, they’ve all arrived. “They really tell me about—not only where I’ve been, but who I was that day,” said Dolan, who said looking over the postcard collection inspired her to reflect on “the experiences I’ve been able to have.”
For Dolan, the postcards to herself capture (捕捉) a moment and help enjoy it. “Those special moments in your life are uniquely yours. We may all see the same thing on our travels. But our experience of that day is all different,” said Dolan.
1. What do the underlined words “blown away” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Surrounded. | B．Attracted. | C．Connected. | D．Attached. |
| A．Keep a diary. | B．Give up writing. | C．Take some photos. | D．Send herself a postcard. |
| A．It awakened her love for travel. | B．It made her an enthusiastic diarist. |
| C．She was afraid of traveling alone. | D．She never took a camera along. |
| A．Some postcards failed to reach Dolan. | B．Dolan stopped traveling due to her old age. |
| C．The postcards bring Dolan many memories. | D．Dolan sent others postcards across the world. |
9 . The best spring destinations in Tibet
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has long been an ideal and mysterious destination for visitors. Now with the arrival of spring, the climate is becoming more pleasant and Tibet has become an even better trowel destination. Here we recommend some of the best tourist destinations in Tibet which might suit your travel taste.
Peach blossom valley: Nyingchi
The peach blossoms in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region have been named as “the most beautiful peach flowers in the world”. A great time to visit Nyingchi for the peach blossoms would usually be from March 20 to Apil 15 each year.
The peach blossom valley in Bomi County, Nyingchi, stretches for 30 kilometers, making it one of the longest in China. Peach blossoms can be seen everywhere- around houses, across farmlands and along streams. Peach trees bloom depending on the altitude and climate, so visitors will have the chance to enjoy the blossoms throughout April.
The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon
The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world. With a total length of about 500 kilometers, its altitude spans from 1,182 meters at Namchak Barwa, the highest peak of the eastern Himalayas, to 550 meters around the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Metog County.
One unique feature of the spring sight here is that visitors can enjoy both the peach blossoms and the snow-capped mountains at the same time.
Nanyi Valley
Nanyigou scenic spot is 20 kilometers away from Milin County and is an important birthplace of the mysterious Tibetan medicine culture. The scenic area rovers a total area of 820 hectares. The ecological conditions here are so good that the place is rich in various animal and plant species.
Surrounded by mountains and shrouded (遮蔽) in clouds, Nanyi Valley is an ideal spring destination for visitors, where you can find peach and azalea blossoms everywhere.
1. What do the three tourist destinations have in common?| A．They are all covered with snow. |
| B．They are rich in various animal and plant species. |
| C．They provide beautiful peach blossoms for visitors. |
| D．They are the birthplaces of the Tibetan medicine culture. |
| A．It’s the second deepest canyon In the world. |
| B．Visitors can have fun from March 20 to April 15 each year. |
| C．It is 550 meters away from the eastern Himalayas. |
| D．Visitors can admire the snow-capped mountains there. |
| A．Tourism. | B．Technology. | C．Agriculture. | D．Photography. |
10 . Top Places to Visit in the World
Bora Bora Island
Bora Bora Island is known for its expensive stays and adventurous activities. The hotels in Bora Bora offer full privacy and their floating villas (别墅) have direct entrance to the sea. May to October is the time when the island receives a lot of tourists. But the best time to go to Bora Bora is November to April. During this time you can skip the crowd and get the perfect weather.
Bali Island
Bali is an Indonesian island and known for its volcanic mountains. It’s very distinctive in terms of history and culture. For its beauty, it has a lot of names, such as Island of Gods, The Last Paradise, Land of Thousand Temples and Morning of the World. Bali has world-class surfing and diving places. April to June and September to October along with Christmas & New Year are the best time to visit Bali.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is an American national park located in southwestern Utah. This place is known for layered red and orange rocks which are geological (地质的) structures and make this place a famous one with more than 2 million people visiting it every year. May to September is considered the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National park.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
One of the most remarkable Australian natural gifts is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The feature of this place is “richness” and “beauty”. This place is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world’s largest coral reef. The water is clear there, which allows you to take a deep dive. The best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is between June and October. Visiting is not allowed in April.
1. What is the best time to go to Bora Bora Island if you want to avoid the crowd?| A．March. | B．June. | C．August. | D．September. |
| A．The Bali Island. | B．The Bryce Canyon National Park. |
| C．The Bora Bora Island. | D．The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. |
| A．They have the largest coral reef. | B．They, can be visited in April. |
| C．They offer diving places. | D．They feature history and culture. |
