1 . This journey began this morning almost an hour later than I had planned, although I had completed my packing before eight o’clock. I was quite clear about the fact that once I left, my house would stand empty for probably the first time since the day it was built. It was a strange feeling and perhaps explains why I was leaving so late, walking around the house many times over, checking one last time to see that all was in order.
It is hard to explain my feelings once I did finally set off. As I drove further and further from the house, I found the surroundings grow unrecognizable. I began to have a feeling of unease mixed with excitement. I took a turning and found myself on a road circling the edge of a hill. I could sense the steep (陡峭的) drop to my left. I felt a sense of alarm that I was perhaps not on the correct road at all, but speeding off in the wrong direction into a wilderness. It was only the feeling of a moment, but it caused me to slow down. And even when I was sure I was on the right road, I felt forced to stop the car a moment to think carefully.
I decided to step out and stretch (伸展) my legs a little. On the one side of the road, thickets and small trees rose sharply, while on the other I could now see the distant countryside and a town nearby.
I walked a little way along the roadside, when I heard a voice behind me. Until this point I had believed myself quite alone and I turned in some surprise. Sitting on the large stone was a thin, whitehaired man. He called to me again and signaled me to join him. For a moment, I took him for a homeless man, but then I saw he was just some local man enjoying the fresh air and summer sunshine, and saw no reason not to do so.
1. Why did the author set off later than planned?| A．Because he repeatedly checked the house. |
| B．Because he was feeling sad about leaving the house. |
| C．Because packing his belongings took longer than expected. |
| D．Because there was no one to help him get everything ready. |
| A．The road had become steep. |
| B．He realized he was driving too fast. |
| C．The beautiful scenery attracted him. |
| D．He suddenly feared that he might get lost. |
| A．didn’t expect to see anyone |
| B．didn’t want to speak to anybody |
| C．didn’t know there was a town nearby |
| D．couldn’t see anything because of the tree |
| A．He just wanted to finish it. |
| B．He felt unable to continue it. |
| C．He regretted having started it. |
| D．He had mixed feelings about it. |
2 . Edible(可食用的) cities are becoming increasingly popular around the world. In the city of Andernach, Germany, anyone who lives or happens to be in the town of 30,000 people is encouraged to pick and take whatever they want from the fruiting trees and bushes in the town center. The town, which sits in the Rhine River Valley, is among the growing number of edible cities across the globe. Since the start of the program in 2010, there is more than enough produce to go around every year regardless of whether someone grabs a single pear or a bag full of potatoes.
“People here are very proud when talking to others about our edible city,” shared Bettina Schneider, city team coordinator(协调员) for the Edible Cities Network in Andernach. “The land that was changed into fruiting gardens and orchards(果园) in Andernach was previously overgrown. But today the town is covered with peach, almond and pear trees.”
Andernach’s public gardens and orchards have also inspired other cities in Germany and throughout the European Union to follow suit. Today, the Edible Cities Network—a group of about 150 cities worldwide with fruit trees and vegetable gardens in public places for anyone to access free of charge—is funded by the European Commission.
“Public green natural spaces in cities are incredibly valuable, and even more so as temperatures rise and cities become more crowded,” said Ina sāumel, a principal investigator for the Edible Cities Network. She explained that Edible Cities Network’s goal is to encourage people to get involved in their urban parks instead of only thinking of them as passive places.
Many cities in the United States have also started similar projects. There are public lands from Seattle to North Carolina where people are welcome to pick and take from fruiting trees and bushes.
1. What can people do in an edible city?| A．Grow fruit trees and potatoes anywhere. |
| B．Pick agricultural products on public land. |
| C．Go to any restaurant to enjoy food for free. |
| D．Make a fortune by selling apples and peaches. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．To enable people to access fresh food. | B．To make the cities cleaner and nicer. |
| C．To stop people from living a busy life. | D．To involve people in their urban parks. |
| A．Some edible cities in America. | B．Predictions about edible cities. |
| C．Evaluations about edible cities. | D．People’s dependence on edible cities. |
Many people enjoy
Another advantage of group tours is that they allow people
4 . Recently, the “city walk” has been gaining steam among residents and tourists around China. On social platform Xiaohongshu, data shows that the number of city walk-related topic posts has increased by 700 percent over the past three months, and the total number of interactions has increased by more than 600 percent.
A city walk is a form of urban tourism originating in the UK. Unlike traditional sightseeing, which aims to hit famous attractions and commercial center, usually by vehicles with tense schedules, city walk is about “roaming” around a city on foot, soaking up the atmosphere and finding unusual things that even a resident of the city might not have noticed before. Such walks generally avoid famous scenic spots and shopping centers, and take you to places where you can have real interactions with the local people, eat at small but authentic restaurants, and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the city.
City walkers are a cast of people who possess intense curiosity. They are eager to engage with the city they are visiting or reside in their own way. By “roaming” on foot, city walkers can better feel the texture and listen to the breath of a place. They seek pleasure more through connection than consumption, which indicates a deep cultural curiosity. For example, in Chongqing, if you don’t take a walk, you can hardly experience the unique geographical charm of the mountainous city. Be it the hutong in Beijing or the Chinese parasol tree district in Shanghai; city walks allow people to see the scenery apart from the scene and uncover hidden knowledge.
The appeal of a city walk lies in the young generation’s changing attitude toward life — pursuing quality leisure time while being occupied with demanding workloads and limited time for exploration. While roaming along the road, you can entirely focus on yourself and listen to your inner voice and care for what you feel, which is a way to love yourself and benefit your mental health. Just like Oscar Wilde once said, “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
1. What do the underlined words “gaining steam” in paragraph one probably mean?| A．Raising concerns. | B．Getting outdated. | C．Causing trouble. | D．Receiving popularity. |
| A．It pursues economical tourism. |
| B．It is usually well-organized and scheduled. |
| C．It helps promote the authentic food of the destination. |
| D．It focuses on feeling the local culture by connecting the city. |
| A．They are keen to buy souvenirs. |
| B．They tend to walk as much as possible. |
| C．They have strong curiosity about the local culture. |
| D．They prefer the city landscape to the natural scenery. |
| A．Why city walk changes people’s lifestyle. |
| B．Why the young fall in love with a city walk. |
| C．How popular the city walk is among citizens. |
| D．What young people usually do during a city walk. |
5 . Lauren and Roy Tyson have one simple piece of advice for parents, “Don’t stop doing what makes you happy.”
These are words to live by for this couple, who turned their
They have covered 26 countries and have welcomed two
His parents write a
Lauren and Roy believe that showing their children the world is
“
In 2021, the family welcomed another son called Lennon. His first
Their belief is “Your ordinary family on a mission to experience the extraordinary!” This family is a(n)
| A．hate | B．love | C．imagination | D．request |
| A．started | B．changed | C．continued | D．finished |
| A．deal | B．point | C．team | D．decision |
| A．guide | B．become | C．persuade | D．encourage |
| A．couples | B．friends | C．children | D．parents |
| A．slow | B．let | C．call | D．turn |
| A．sharing | B．joining | C．supporting | D．visiting |
| A．letter | B．book | C．blog | D．note |
| A．popular | B．important | C．obvious | D．easy |
| A．School | B．Army | C．Travel | D．Family |
| A．foods | B．games | C．names | D．experiences |
| A．learn | B．teach | C．obey | D．control |
| A．news | B．chance | C．flight | D．wealth |
| A．opposite | B．living | C．absolute | D．potential |
| A．play with | B．work out | C．break down | D．fit into |
6 . Exploring Wildlife Conservation in Kenya
Day 1: Nairobi, Kenya
Arrive at the airport in Nairobi, where our staff will be on hand to drive you to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel
Day 2: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
A charter flight (包机) brings us to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a 62,000-acre grassland on the north of Mount Kenya. Considered a model in the conservation field, this healthy wildlife habitat is home to a number of rare species, including the giraffe, the Grevy’s zebra, and African wild dogs. Lewa and the neighboring Borana Conservancy also harbor roughly 15 percent of Kenya’s entire rhino population.
Accommodation: Elewana Lewa Safari Camp
Day 3: Amboseli National Park
Fly by private charter to Amboseli National Park, where vast grasslands are irrigated by underground runoff streams from Mount Kilimanjaro. These landscapes provide a habitat for hundreds of elephants, making the park one of the best places in Africa to spot these large creatures. The travel begins on the drive to Tortilis Camp, set within view of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation: Tortilis Camp
Day 4: Masai Mara National Reserve
At first light, head out to track the animals that crossed the area during the night. This area has one of the highest concentrations of large predators (捕食性动物) in all of Africa. Then watch large groups of hippos in the Mara River and crocodiles sunbathing on the shore.
Accommodation: Kichwa Tembo Camp
1. On which day will you visit Lewa Wildlife Conservancy?| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
| A．Tamarind Tree Hotel. | B．Kichwa Tembo Camp. |
| C．Amboseli National Park. | D．Borana Conservancy. |
| A．It provides the best sunbath. |
| B．It features the Grevy’s zebra. |
| C．It is located near an airport. |
| D．It is home to large predators. |
7 . The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established in 1958, which has many famous tourist attractions.
Shapotou, Zhongwei
Shapotou scenic zone, 16 kilometers west of Zhongwei County in the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, has become a must-see for tourists who visit Ningxia. Wang Wei, a famous poet in ancient China, recorded the beauty of Shapotou in a poem on a mission to the frontier.
The park has many activities on offer, which include drifting on the Yellow River and sliding from a sand dune.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: May to early October
Ticket Price: 80 yuan ($11.7)
Half Price:
①Minors between the ages of 7 and 18;
②Full-time university bachelor or junior degree students with a registered student ID card.
Shahu Lake, Shizuishan
Shahu Lake, one of the top 10 destinations for holidays in Shizuishan city, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in Northwest China, is surrounded by large marshlands(沼泽) and desert, and is known as the “pearl of the desert” along the Silk Road. The location of the 1995 movie A Chinese Odyssey attracts many visitors.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: May to early October
Ticket Price: 50 yuan ($7.32)
Half Price:
①Minors between the ages of 7 and 18;
②Full-time university bachelor or junior degree students with a registered student ID card.
Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park, Yinchuan
Nfingcui Lake National Wetland Park is perhaps the best ecological wetland in China. It is the first national wetland park of the Yellow River Basin. The first established and expanding water and land sports base in the northwest integrates outdoor training, science education, leisure and fishing.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: March to May
Ticket Price: 40 yuan ($5.9)
HalfPrice: Full-time university bachelor or junior degree students with a registered student ID card.
Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio, Yinchuan
Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio, located in Yinchuan city, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, has produced many world-famous films, one of which is Zhang Yimou’s Red Sorghum.
Zhenbeipu functioned as a frontier in the Ming Dynasty, but today, the studio has become a tourism destination fully integrating sightseeing, entertainment, relaxation, dining and shopping.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: Late April to early October
Ticket Price: 80 yuan ($11.7)
Half Price: Full-time university bachelor or junior degree students with a roistered student ID card.
1. How much should a couple with a full-time university bachelor pay for travelling to Shapotou?| A．80 yuan. | B．120 yuan. | C．160 yuan. | D．200 yuan. |
| A．Shapotou, Zhongwei. |
| B．Shahu Lake, Shizuishan. |
| C．Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park, Yinchuan. |
| D．Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio, Yinchuan. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A science journal. | D．A geography textbook. |
8 . A famous magazine, Amusement Today, does a survey among park lovers every year both in the US and overseas, based on which, “Top 5 List of the Best Amusement Parks in the World” has come out as follows:
Disneyland, California
Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California, the US. More than 515 million guests have traveled to this American landmark from around the world since the park first opened to guests on July 17, 1955. The park consists of many world-famous sections, such as Main Street, Adventure land, New Orleans Square, and so on.
Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida
Magic Kingdom is a theme park within the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando opened on October 1, 1971. It is the most famous theme park in Florida. The park’s design and attractions don’t make much difference from Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
EPCOT, Disney World, Florida
EPCOT is the second theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The park opened on October 1, 1982, and was named EPCOT Center from 1982 to 1993. It was the largest Disney theme park in the world until 1998, when Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened.
DisneyMGM Studios, Florida
MGM’s streets are the home for some great moviethemed attractions with a history of less than 30 years. With the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock and Roller Coaster, the park is now home to Disney World’s most thrilling rides.
Universal Studios, Florida
Go behind the scenes, beyond the screen and jump right into the action of your favorite movies at Universal Studios, the number one movie and TV theme park in the world.
1. Which of the following theme parks have similar attractions?| A．Disneyland & Magic Kingdom. |
| B．Disneyland & Universal Studios. |
| C．EPCOT & DisneyMGM Studios. |
| D．Magic Kingdom & Universal Studios. |
| A．Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida. |
| B．DisneyMGM Studios, Florida. |
| C．EPCOT, Disney World, Florida. |
| D．Disneyland, California. |
| A．To attract tourists to these theme parks. |
| B．To increase the sales of Amusement Today. |
| C．To introduce world’s best amusement parks. |
| D．To compare attractions in different theme parks. |
Some people are addicted
Planning a trip can be almost as enjoyable as the trip
Our travel dreams can’t
10 . Taiyuan and Pingyao Private Tour
Tour operator: TUI ChinaMax group size: 25
Age range: 10 to 99
Operated in: English, German
Join this four-day tour to discover Taiyuan and Pingyao through their unique culture, lifestyle and food.
Day 1:Arrive at Taiyuan Airport / Railway Station. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you and accompany you on the transfer (换乘) to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in the city.
Day 2:We will pick you up at about 8:30 for the drive to Pingyao. On the way we’ll stop to see Jinci Temple the most famous temple complex in Shanxi, located southwest of Taiyuan at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain. Afterwards we’ll continue to Qiao’s Family Compound, a traditional dwelling (住宅) in the north of China, known for its fine workmanship of wood, brick and stone carvings. After that we’ll continue driving to Pingyao. Check in at your hotel in the late afternoon and then spend the rest of the day at leisure in the ancient city.
Day 3:Get ready to enjoy a half-day walking tour around the ancient walls of Pingyao. After lunch, we’ll go to visit Shuanglin Temple, which is famous for its collection of more than 2,000 decorated clay statues that are dated to the 12th-19th centuries. In the afternoon we’ll drive back to the hotel in Taiyuan, with an estimated arrival time of 18:00.
Day 4:After breakfast at the hotel, prepare to check out of your room at the scheduled time and transfer to Taiyuan Airport / Railway Station for your onward or return flight / train.
Price:January-March $573
April-June $487
July-September $660
October-December $561
1. On which day will tourists live in Pingyao?
| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
| A．Jinci Temple. | B．Xuanweng Mountain. |
| C．Shuanglin Temple. | D．Qiao’s Family Compound. |
| A．$487. | B．$561. | C．$573. | D．$660. |
