Beijing is a city bridging the ancient and the modern. From Buddhist temples to museums, narrow hutong
But for all its ancient buildings, Beijing is also a place
It is a distinct visual contrast (反差) that shouldn’t work,
The
2 . As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica, she found herself greeted by a group of little Gentoo penguins (企鹅) longing to say hello. These gentle, lovely gatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni would never forget.
Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71, has had a deep love for travel. Throughout her career (职业) as a professional dancer, she toured in the UK, but always longed to explore further. When she retired from dancing and her sons eventually flew the nest, she decided it was time to take the plunge.
After taking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts, Ginni began to travel the world, eventually getting work teaching English in Japan and Chile. And it was in Chile she discovered she could get last-minute cheap deals on ships going to Antarctica from the islands off Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the South American mainland. “I just decided I wanted to go,” she says. “I had no idea about what I’d find there and I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted to do it. And I wanted to do it alone as I always prefer it that way.”
In March 2008, Ginni boarded a ship with 48 passengers she’d never met before, to begin the journey towards Antarctica. “From seeing the wildlife to witnessing sunrises, the whole experience was amazing. Antarctica left an impression on me that no other place has,” Ginni says. “I remember the first time I saw a humpback whale; it just rose out of the water like some prehistoric creature and I thought it was smiling at us. You could still hear the operatic sounds it was making underwater.”
The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected by humans, was one of the biggest things that hit home to Ginni.
1. Which of the following best explains “take the plunge” underlined in paragraph 2?| A．Try challenging things. | B．Take a degree. |
| C．Bring back lost memories. | D．Stick to a promise. |
| A．Lovely penguins. | B．Beautiful scenery. |
| C．A discount fare. | D．A friend’s invitation. |
| A．It could be a home for her. | B．It should be easily accessible. |
| C．It should be well preserved. | D．It needs to be fully introduced. |
| A．A childhood dream. | B．An unforgettable experience. |
| C．Sailing around the world. | D．Meeting animals in Antarctica. |
3 . My husband and I just spent a week in Paris.
The place wasn’t entirely authentic, though. Unlike a normal Parisian apartment, the plumbing (水管) worked.
Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone noted in this paper a couple of weeks ago, they eat great food and never gain weight.
In France, quality of life is much more important than efficiency.
You can tell this by cafés life. French cafés are always crowded.
| A．Not all the customers are tourists. |
| B．The quality of life in France is equally excellent. |
| C．There was a nice kitchen and a comfortable bed. |
| D．The amazing food is mainly consumed by local farmers. |
| E．That’s not the only reason the French eat less than we do. |
| F．Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians. |
| G．The food is so delicious that you don’t need much of it to make you happy. |
4 . The most unforgettable thing during my long summer holiday last year, of course was my trip
There were quite a lot of interesting places in England,
I went to Shakespeare’s Birthplace. It was the house
I really enjoyed this nice trip to England, from which I learned a lot. I’m very happy that I could visit such an interesting country. I want to go there again in the future.
1.| A．at | B．for | C．from | D．to |
| A．excited | B．appointed | C．stubborn | D．determined |
| A．for example | B．such as | C．as such | D．for instance |
| A．both | B．either | C．neither | D．each |
| A．views | B．scenes | C．sites | D．interests |
| A．also | B．too | C．still | D．yet |
| A．that | B．which | C．who | D．where |
| A．novels | B．records | C．films | D．songs |
| A．Other | B．Every | C．Each | D．Another |
| A．deep | B．deeply | C．high | D．highly |
| A．thought about | B．heard about | C．listened to | D．dreamed about |
| A．hometown | B．office | C．play | D．theatre |
| A．speak | B．say | C．talk | D．see |
| A．Shakespeare | B．Oxford | C．England | D．Harry Potter |
| A．who | B．that | C．when | D．where |
5 . In the Arab world, a souk is a market usually held in an open-air location. Souks are an important part of life in the Middle East.
Most major souks probably started as informal meetings of merchants (商人) in open spaces, which slowly developed into more formal markets.
Everything from glassware to meat can be found at a souk,with merchants coming from nearby areas to sell their products.
If you happen to be traveling in the Middle East, just pay a visit to a souk. Some regions have famous markets with a long and interesting history, and a souk is a great place to get souvenirs. You can find a local guide for your visit to ensure that you know local cultural rules well.
| A．Europeans prefer to pay the list price. |
| B．Many countries in the Middle East have long artistic traditions. |
| C．That will certainly allow you a more enjoyable day at the market. |
| D．People may be shocked at the long process of making a deal at souks. |
| E．There are many cultural differences between the West and the Middle East. |
| F．Nowadays, souks make special designs to create a customer-friendly environment. |
| G．Many visitors to the Middle Eastern countries enjoy going to souks to buy great goods. |
6 . China is a colorful country with amazing places and cultures. In this blog, we will introduce five most attractive places that you can’t miss if you are planning to go for a travel in China!
Beijing
Beijing, the capital of China for over 850 years, is the first choice for many travellers. A perfect combination of classic elegance and modernity, it is the best Chinese destination to give you a better understanding of the country. You can wander around the Forbidden City to feel the dignity of the city; or you can walk along the criss-crossing hutongs and enjoy yourself in everyday local life.
Xi’an
If you want to feel the history of China over the past 1,000 years, you can go to Beijing; however, if you want to experience the 5,000 years’ history of this ancient, oriental land, Xi’an is the best travel destination in China. As one of the four major capitals of ancient civilisation (together with Athens, Cairo, and Rome), Xi’an is the home of Chinese civilisation. The Silk Road starts from here, stretching through West China to the Mediterranean.
Guilin
Guilin, a peaceful city lying in the hilly south-western area of the country, is among the top Chinese destinations for its extraordinary natural scenery. The unique karst landscape with its four features, namely green hills, clear water, fantastic caves, and oddly-shaped rocks, makes it a famous tourist attraction.
Chengdu
Visiting the lovely giant pandas must be on everyone’s to-do list when planning a tour of the best Chinese destinations. Many cities have zoos with space for pandas, but the best place to get close to them is Chengdu for sure! Visiting Chengdu is also a treat for food lovers. Jin li Street is a great place to have a taste of well-known Sichuan food. Besides, you can also enjoy the comfortable atmosphere.
1. What can you do in Beijing?| A．Enjoy the oddly-shaped rocks. | B．Have a taste of Sichuan food. |
| C．Walk around the Forbidden City. | D．Learn the history of the Silk Road. |
| A．Beijing. | B．Xi’an. | C．Guilin. | D．Chengdu. |
| A．Another attractive place in China. | B．The introduction to karst landscape. |
| C．Tips for travelling around the world. | D．The contact information of a museum. |
7 . With the approaching of New Year, more and more visitors will come to China. Don’t know where you should go? Here are some places recommended for you.
Shanghai Expo Culture Park
The Shanghai Expo Culture Park will soon open its northern section to the public, in which the major attractions include a traditional garden that is similar in design to Shanghai’s famous Yuyuan Garden and a 400-meter avenue exhibiting the history of the area, while in the southern section lies a grand theater.
Macao Tower AJ Hackett Bungee Jump
The Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world’s 10th highest tower, with a variety of activities, such as eating and entertainment. One of the activities which enjoy good fame is the bungee jump. The AJ Hackett Macao Tower Bungee Jump is 233 meters high, making it a Guinness World Record as the highest commercial (商业的) bungee jump in the world. Raise your arms and off you go!
Harbin’s Frozen World
For those who have never been to Harbin, there is an almost endless list of things to do. At Harbin Ice—Snow World, you can not only see the world—famous ice architecture, but also have great fun! You can have hotpot at the restaurants which are made of ice, enjoying the product of both ice and fire, go down the world’s longest ice slide (滑梯) and join in the popular Ice and Snow Electronic Music Festival to welcome 2024.
The winter is cold and the night is long, so why not go to the theatre? Harbin was listed by the United Nations as a “music city” in 2010. Harbin Grand Theater is where artistic souls defrost (化霜) a little to share their love of art.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to do extreme sports?| A．Shanghai Expo Culture Park. | B．The Macao Tower. |
| C．Shangha’s Yuyuan Garden. | D．Harbin Ice—Snow World. |
| A．Attend a famous music festival. | B．Play with both ice and fire. |
| C．Turn water into instant ice. | D．Learn to make ice architecture. |
| A．They have a high tower. | B．They have a long ice slide. |
| C．They have a grand theater. | D．They have traditional architecture. |
8 . I grew up in Michigan and have loved boats since I was young. I’d go out on my dad’s fishing boat, and every birthday I’d get a miniature boat with a viewing window. In Michigan, we’re
Three years ago, I
One weekend this year, I met a
We made sure to keep the paper safe. Before leaving the harbor, I posted a picture on my Facebook page and didn’t expect what followed.
The next morning, my phone
In autumn, Michele came to visit. She brought some of his writing and the handwriting matched. She
It now sits in a display case in my shop. That Facebook post now has 87,000
| A．surrounded | B．estimated | C．defended | D．integrated |
| A．even | B．somehow | C．merely | D．anyhow |
| A．exceptionally | B．entirely | C．gradually | D．successfully |
| A．call out | B．help with | C．help out | D．call up |
| A．history | B．significance | C．interest | D．entertainment |
| A．elegant | B．remote | C．reliable | D．potential |
| A．unfolded | B．opened | C．uncovered | D．exposed |
| A．presented | B．wrote | C．read | D．showed |
| A．poured out | B．blew up | C．broke out | D．set up |
| A．at first | B．above all | C．in turn | D．in return |
| A．stuffed | B．displayed | C．deserted | D．hid |
| A．spoke up | B．worked out | C．spoke out | D．worked up |
| A．insisted | B．convinced | C．appealed | D．anticipated |
| A．critics | B．fans | C．likes | D．inquiries |
| A．For | B．As | C．With | D．Alongside |
9 . You should see the photo. I’m sitting in red dirt,
It was a strange choice for a holiday. I like sitting by the pool with a cola, not flies and frogs. I like being
But here’s the thing about that photo: I am smiling!
The trip sounded good when I
In Darwin we got onto a bus. It quickly became tiresome. The kids were
But later when I looked out at the large empty land, I was surprised at and moved by its
Finally we reached our
It didn’t matter. The next nine days were
On our last night, a water pipe (管子)
Indeed, it was
Yes, the coffee was bad, but I was too focused on keeping crickets off my face.
I love that photo of me in the dirt. I look messy but happy. Sometimes it’s another way of traveling. There is beautiful
| A．washing | B．wearing | C．waving | D．watching |
| A．noisy | B．busy | C．alone | D．shy |
| A．shortly | B．cautiously | C．freshly | D．clearly |
| A．signed up | B．showed up | C．stood up | D．woke up |
| A．guide | B．business | C．culture | D．resource |
| A．silent | B．encouraged | C．moody | D．excited |
| A．coldness | B．beauty | C．enthusiasm | D．emptiness |
| A．goal | B．agreement | C．destination | D．decision |
| A．killed | B．packed | C．wasted | D．booked |
| A．cut | B．expanded | C．shortened | D．broke |
| A．scared | B．complained | C．laughed | D．saddened |
| A．normal | B．strange | C．unbelievable | D．perfect |
| A．impossible | B．probable | C．easy | D．important |
| A．tested | B．stored | C．valued | D．experienced |
| A．dress | B．weather | C．scenery | D．room |
10 . 4-Day Classic Beijing Tour
The 4-day classic Beijing tour is designed for tourists who come to visit China for the first time. It covers the most popular and typical places in Beijing, fully displaying the scenery, culture, history, local lifestyles and features, food and drinks, business, etc. to you.
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Your guide meets you at Beijing Capital International Airport, and helps you check in at your hotel.
Enjoy Peking duck as welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 2: The Great Wall & the Summer Palace
Start your day at the most famous part of the Great Wall, the Badaling Great Wall. Leave the downtown for the Great Wall at 8 am. Since it is a long drive to the Great Wall (about 2 hours' riding), have a break at the Beijing Bona Jade Museum on the way. Lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant. In the early afternoon come back to the city and have a sightseeing (观光) tour of the Summer Palace.
Suggested activity: Beijing opera shows (Liyuan Theatre, 19:30-20:30 every evening)
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 3: Beijing city sightseeing & the local experience
Your guide meets you at the hotel at 8 am and set out for the day's touring: Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City.
After visiting the two sites, have a break and get ready for lunch.
Hutong visit: see some traditional arts of the old Beijing, such as paper cutting and kite making, and visit a local family.
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 4: Beijing Olympic sites
Visit the Olympic sites: the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube and the Olympic Green, showing the fast developing modern China. Enjoy some free time after visiting the sites.
After lunch, it is shopping time and then the tour is over.
1. Whom is this advertisement aimed at?| A．Experts who study history and cities. |
| B．People who are interested in touring. |
| C．Kids who were born in other cities. |
| D．Foreigners who are new to China. |
| A．Visit the Summer Palace on the first day. |
| B．Go to Liyuan Theatre in the evening. |
| C．Go sightseeing in a Beijing hutong. |
| D．Live and eat downtown in Beijing. |
| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
