1 . Europe is the perfect place for a holiday. Every corner of the continent is bursting with history, culture and sights. The countries are so very close to one another, and yet so completely different.
Sweden
Sweden is a brilliant destination for a campervan (露营车) holiday, with hundreds of well-appointed camping sites suitable for vehicles. Head north to Lapland in the Arctic Circle and you’ll find true wildernesses where you can truly get close to nature. Head here between June and mid-July and you’ll be able to take in the midnight sunshine. If you’re looking for great nightlife, head to Gothenburg, Stockholm or Malmo.
Germany
There are massive industrial cities, rolling plains, towering mountains, deep forests and long, sparkling rivers. It’s not just what’s to see that makes Germany so great, but the ease of seeing everything. All these wonderful locations are all linked by one of the world’s best road systems.
Scotland
Scotland has something for everyone: cities with rich nightlife, incredible scenery, wonderful lochs and medieval (中世纪的) castles. If you want to get away from it all, then the Highlands are one of the least populated areas in the whole of Europe. Hikers will love the Cairngorms – the largest national park in the UK.
Spain
Spain’s famous for its beach holidays, but it offers so much more than that. With a lovely climate, rich history, excellent architecture, delicious cuisine and friendly locals, Spain has long been a favoured destination for holiday.
1. What is the purpose of this text?| A．To explain why the attractions in Europe are world-famous. |
| B．To show the rich history and culture of the European countries. |
| C．To tell about the differences between the European countries. |
| D．To introduce some great European holiday destinations. |
| A．Beautiful scenery. | B．Midnight sunshine. |
| C．Medieval castles. | D．Great nightlife. |
| A．Sweden. | B．Germany. | C．Scotland. | D．Spain. |
2 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?| A．Yellowstone National Park. | B．Joshua Tree National Park. |
| C．Grand Canyon National Park. | D．Virgin Islands National Park. |
| A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there. | B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
| C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter. | D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
| A．Hiking. | B．Skiing. | C．Swimming. | D．Hunting. |
3 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.
Athens, Greece
In Athens, every November temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions — recently it has hosted Picasso’s.
In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.
Huaraz, Peru
To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Lord of the Rings.
April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails (路线) with fewer people.
Edinburgh, UK
Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn, the Little Chartroom. And the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.
Valletta, Malta
Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around £30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 or so and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries — Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.
1. Which place has exhibited Picasso’s works lately?| A．Muza. | B．National Gallery. |
| C．The Museum of Cycladic Art. | D．Scottish National Portrait Gallery. |
| A．Athens. | B．Valletta. | C．Huaraz. | D．Edinburgh. |
| A．It served the Queen of Scotland. | B．It combines ancient and modern styles. |
| C．It has at least eight kinds of rooms. | D．It offers Scottish local specialties. |
4 . Now many young people are travelling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first travelled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go travelling last year. He set up a website. The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. On the website he said he wished he had travelled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the place you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30-year-old man.
Richardson described travelling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try. ”
The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said, “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”
1. Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?| A．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
| B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
| C．Travelling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
| D．Travelling abroad helps people to find new things. |
| A．you can only depend on yourself whatever happens. |
| B．it is hard for you to prove yourself to others. |
| C．you have to make things on your own. |
| D．it will finally build your character. |
| A．He started travelling alone at an early age. |
| B．He was once shot in the arm. |
| C．His website inspires others a lot. |
| D．He used to work as a salesman. |
| A．Travel abroad. | B．Travel light. |
| C．Travel alone. | D．Travel Wide and Far. |
5 . Is there a place that you have a strong desire to visit before you are too old to travel? If so, you’re in my shoes. The following places are where I desire to visit very much and most probably your best choices.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The region is famous for its amazing natural beauty. Many 5A scenic areas and geological(地质的)parks are located there. The park not only has natural wonders, such as strange looking peaks and a thick forest, but also rich animal and plant resources. Tourists can feel like stepping into a natural botanic(植物)garden and kingdom of animals. After visiting here, one will realize the great natural beauty of our world.
The Rainbow Mountains
These geographical(地理的)wonders look as if they were painted with a giant paintbrush. The bright colors stand obviously among the surrounding green plants. Wild as it is, these mountains are a part of our world in China’s Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. This wild variety of color does exist in the real world. No Photoshop is necessary for the natural beauty of these mountains.
Bora bora.
This place offers the chance to live like a native Polynesian. The clear open sky and the calm waters offer you the unique opportunity to observe how the native people lead a life nearby the sea. Many holiday centers are built here and offer different tours and experiences.
The Galapagos Islands.
The islands consist of 13 volcanic(火山的)islands and six smaller islands. Although known for Darwin’s visit, they’re more attractive than you might imagine. There are 900 species of animals found on these islands. 200 of these species are specific(特有的)to the Galapagos. Most travelers come to this lovely place for the specific wildlife here.
1. What can we infer about the four places from the text?| A．They all consist of both man-made sights and natural scenery. |
| B．They all enable visitors to experience the local people’s life. |
| C．They all became well-known after some important visits. |
| D．They are all on the author’s list of places to travel. |
| A．See beautiful rainbows. | B．Take photos of colorful plants. |
| C．Enjoy geographical wonders. | D．Paint pictures with giant paintbrushes. |
| A．Various wildlife. | B．The volcanoes. | C．Darwin’s visit. | D．Dark green plants. |
6 . At the foot of the Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang, a homestay (民宿) is attracting travelers from far and wide, which has won architectural medal at the 2021 German iF Design Awards.
The owners of the homestay are a couple in their late 30s who decided to return to their hometown three years ago. Li Xiumei used to be in charge of a division at a company in Hangzhou, and her husband was a sales director. It was an ordinary situation where Li’s husband was on business trips a lot and Li still worked on weekends. City life sometimes is not easy.
In 2018, they quit jobs and went back to Dongtianmu village, which lies in a forest of bamboo. The first time they drove into the village was one late afternoon. The cooking smoke was rising from the foot of the mountain, which gave them a very different feeling from the city.
The homestay was built beside her husband’s old countryside house. The old house is preserved (保留), while a brand-new building was built on its side and the whole site is made up of four courtyards. It has been updated to have a hall, a tea room, a kitchen, a dining room. Japanese cherry trees are planted in the east courtyard. A swimming pool is placed in the west courtyard, with a bar located on one side.
Li and her husband love gardening and music, and their new home gives them enough space to continue their interests and relax in the heart of nature. Li wants to share the quiet country life, so she makes her new home a homestay. In 2019, the homestay became an online hit after guests shared their experiences on social media. “The longer I stay here, the more I feel it was the right choice to come back, and this is more meaningful than making money,” Li says.
1. How did Li feel about city life?| A．Satisfied. | B．Noisy. | C．Attractive. | D．Tired |
| A．The forest of bamboo. | B．The smoke of cooking. |
| C．The fresh air in the village. | D．The feeling of loneliness. |
| A．It is ancient and broken. | B．It can hold many guests. |
| C．It must have been carefully designed. | D．It has been rebuilt by the couple. |
| A．Continuing their music dream. | B．Living in the countryside. |
| C．Staying at the old house. | D．Developing a city. |
7 . A big part of an American road trip is to get your music on as you head out on the highway and enjoy the sights and the scenery. Here are the top four scenic drives in America’s Southwest.
Big Sur Coast Highway, California
It is officially known as California State Route 1 with views of high mountains and rolling waves. Photo tip--just after you cross the bridge (going south), there’s a parking area which is great for shots looking back towards the bridge.
Las Vegas Boulevard, Nevada
Number two is not to be confused with “The Strip” in Las Vegas. It is worth checking out for its neon (霓虹) signs along the roadside. You can see the Hacienda Horse, Rider and the iconic Silver Slipper along this way which takes only 15 minutes to drive.
Death Valley, California
As the hottest, driest and lowest national park, Death Valley is a land of extremes. More than just a desert, Death Valley provides park visitors with a chance to admire natural beauty from the snow mountains to the wildflower fields and small oases (绿洲) to the endless desert.
Red Rock Scenic Byway, Arizona
The Scenic Byway is south on the way to Oak Creek, which is surrounded by an amazing landscape of red rock hills set against clear blue skies. The sandstone rock glows in the sunshine and it’s worth taking your hiking boots and getting out into the landscape to experience its positive energy.
1. Who is the text probably written for?| A．Hikers. | B．Self-driving tourists. |
| C．Photography lovers. | D．Adventurers. |
| A．Parking to listen to the waves. | B．Enjoying the beauty of neon signs. |
| C．Going for a hike on high mountains. | D．Taking pictures across the bridge. |
| A．Big Sur Coast Highway | B．Las Vegas Boulevard |
| C．Death Valley | D．Red Rock Scenic Byway |
8 . Here are some of the best fall fairs from New England states.
Connecticut: Durham Fair
Dates: September 22-25
The 98th Annual Durham Fair might not be Connecticut’s oldest (that honor goes to the Four Town Fair), but it is the state’s largest. And it has a special focus on kids, making it well worth the two-hour drive from Boston.
The Durham Fair even has a mini-fairground designed especially for children that features activities like a pedal tractor pull and all sorts of games, plus a stage with little animals and magic shows.
Maine: Fryeburg Fair
Dates: October 2-9
The Fryeburg Fair is the farthest away from Boston, but that doesn’t stop people from travelling from all over the country with their kids to experience one of New England’s finest fall fairs. The fair has some unique spins that celebrate what makes Maine special, like Woodsmen’s Field Day with an exciting competition featuring log-rolling, axe-throwing, and tree falling. The fair has all kinds of farm animals, from draft horses to camels.
Massachusetts: Topsfield Fair
Dates: September 30 - October 10
Probably the most well-known fair on the list for Bostonians is the Topsfield Fair, which takes place in our backyard. The origins of this fair go back nearly 200 years ago and it’s truly a classic fall agricultural fair. Topsfield has everything from the rides for children to many farm animals, like pigs, goats, cows, chickens and rabbits.
New Hampshire: Sandwich Fair
Dates: October 8-10
Two hours north of Boston, you will find the Sandwich Fair. Saturday at the fair is Children’s Day, which includes a kid’s pedal tractor pull and Mo the clown. Sunday is Family Day, where you will find a miniature horse demo and the Grand Street Parade. While you are at the fair, hike nearby West Rattlesnake or check out some of the other things to do near Lake Winnipesaukee.
1. What can you do if you go to the Durham Fair?| A．Walk around Connecticut’s oldest fair. |
| B．Drive a pedal tractor for a competition. |
| C．Celebrate Woodsmen’s Field Day. |
| D．Watch some live performances. |
| A．The Durham Fair. |
| B．The Fryeburg Fair. |
| C．The Topsfield Fair. |
| D．The Sandwich Fair. |
| A．They are created for fun. |
| B．They are old fairs in New England. |
| C．They are famous in the United States. |
| D．They are suitable for families with children. |
9 . Lots of people dream of a beach vacation, but hesitate to take one because they don't want to leave a pet behind.
Find a hotel that is pet-friendly. Most hotels that accept pets will advertise themselves as pet-friendly on their websites.
Clean up after your pet. When vacationing with your pet it doesn't mean that all responsibility is gone. Picking up after it, whether that is when it goes to the bathroom or it makes a mess with its food, is still your responsibility.
Be considerate of others.
| A．Protect your pet from the sun. |
| B．Make sure you choose a beach that allows pets. |
| C．However, there is no need to settle for a pet sitter. |
| D．You never know how an animal will react in public. |
| E．You could also try to stay with a friend who loves your pet. |
| F．If you are unsure whether a hotel accepts pets, call it and ask. |
| G．This is especially important at the beach where many people move around. |
10 . Can't—miss exhibits at Chicago museums in 2020
Chicago is a city full of history, art, culture. This year, the city's major museums are staging several show—stopping exhibits. Here are just a few of the Chicago museum exhibits' worth a visit in 2020.
The Allure(魅力) of Matter: Material Art from China
Co—presented by Chicago's Smart Museum of Art and Wrightwood 659, the Allure of Matter: Material Art from China is a limited—time exhibit that focuses on charming material art from contemporary Chinese artists. See everyday objects transformed into large—scale artworks, with pieces made from plastic, wood, paper, and more. Guests are encouraged to visit both locations to fully experience the exhibit's 45 different works.
Feb.6—May. 2,2020
Wrightwood 659, Lincoln Park
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park
The March at the DuSable Museum
Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History is the first independent African American history museum in the country, the exhibit of which showcases the 1963March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The groundbreaking exhibit will bring Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech to virtual reality for the first time and allow guests a one—of—a—kind, multi—level sensory experience.
Feb.28—Nov. 20,2020
The DuSable Museum of African American History, Hyde Park
Monet and Chicago
Chicago has always held a special connection to Monet. The Art institute was the first American museum to purchase one of Monet's paintings, and today the museum holds the largest collection of works by the artists outside of Paris. That makes the museum a perfect background for the pioneering Monet and Chicago. The exhibit explores Monet's connections to the city through 65 of his paintings—including both rare and iconic(标志性的) works.
May.10 — Sept.28, 2020
Art Institute of Chicago, Loop
1. What is the characteristic of Chinese artists' artworks?| A．They are presented in a single location. |
| B．They are made of materials for daily use. |
| C．They are made by Chinese—American artists. |
| D．They are held from January to May. |
| A．An Institute of Chicago, Loop. |
| B．Wrightwood 659, Lincoln Park. |
| C．Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park. |
| D．The DuSable Museum of African American History, Hyde Park. |
| A．Monet's life outside of Paris. | B．Monet's later life in Chicago. |
| C．Monet's paintings of Chicago. | D．Monet's connection to Chicago. |
