1 . People living on Rum are hoping it will be recognised as a Dark Sky Island. They have been preparing to achieve it.
In recent years, the community of just 30 people on Rum have tried their best to change the island’s lighting system(系统). There are no streetlights, hardly any buildings and no traffic. When the sun sets, locals and visitors can experience a naturally dark sky, and enjoy views of stars.
The island community has been taking readings with special equipment (设备)which is used to determine the brightness of the night sky. “We have to take these through our whole season so we get to know what the sky is like at different times of the year and night,” Mr Mumford, the island’s visitor services manager, said. “We need to make sure there are plans for the future in terms of what it’s going to look like and what this means.”
Dark Sky status (地位)would also help Manx Shearwaters, a bird which depends on the darkness to find the direction to South America every year.
“Manx Shearwaters are attracted to man-made light; they can be hurt at this time of year when they’re returning from migration (迁徙), and in September when young birds first fly to South America,” said Nature Scot’s Lesley Watt, a local.
“On that flight, if there are any man-made lights in the village, they could be attracted to those lights instead of reaching the sea for their onward journey. If they do get grounded, they have very little chance of making it out to sea.”
It is also hoped that by achieving Dark Sky Island status, Rum would be able to make use of this chance and bring in visitors.
“Most people aren’t coming to Scotland from October to March, which is the best time to view the night sky,” Mr Mumford said. “This is the perfect chance to help with that. We want to show off what we have here, and the work we’ve put in to protect that. We want to show people what we get to see every day.”
1. What does the author try to show in paragraph 2?| A．People on Rum live a hard life. | B．Rum does well in researching stars. |
| C．There are few unnatural lights on Rum. | D．The lighting system on Rum is out of date. |
| A．To keep an exact record of stars. |
| B．To check the use of lights on the island. |
| C．To collect information of weather conditions. |
| D．To know sky better to prepare for future plans. |
| A．It is helpful for them to find more food. |
| B．It makes their migration journey smoother. |
| C．It offers them a good environment of producing. |
| D．It protects them from being eaten by other animals. |
| A．He is addicted to watching stars. | B．He is hopeful of achieving the status. |
| C．He is looking forward to visitors’ coming. | D．He is eager to improve local people’s life. |
1. How much is the ticket to the Ocean Park?
| A．£ 2.00. | B．£ 6.50. | C．£ 8.50. |
| A．Lunch. | B．Water. | C．Fruit. |
| A．Listen to a talk. | B．Do some worksheets. | C．Watch the sharks being fed. |
| A．The ocean. | B．Sharks. | C．Penguins. |
3 . Welcome to Santa Cruz County. It is home to rough coastline and it’s the main destination for many hiking adventurers!
California King Tides Are Coming!
California King Tides are coming back to Santa Cruz County, and this season you have even more opportunities to enjoy these impressive tides! These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline.
Winter Wildlife Getaway!
This season marks the start of the best wildlife watching on the California coast! Migrating whales and many special birds make December and January the perfect time for a wildlife adventure.
Magic Monarch Butterfly!
In Santa Cruz, we like to celebrate all creatures great and small, especially those of the migrating variety. On one hand, we are attracted by the sight of a whale surfaceing from the depths of the sea and, on the other hand, we delight in the attractive magic of a flying monarch butterfly.
County Shores!
Explore Santa Cruz County shores, and you’ll delight in rock y tide pools full of unique sea creatures. While exploring local tide pools, remember to have respect for your surroundings.
Care & Safety
Never turn your back on the ocean. Sleeper waves are a real phenomenon, and can sweep you away at any time.
We know how wonderful it might be to touch a plant or catch a fish from its waters, but disrupting tide pool life harms its inhabitants. Even if you think you’re saving a fish that appears to be pushed out of water, it’s best to leave it be. The tide will finally return it.
1. What are California King Tides like?| A．Unpredictable. | B．Splendid. | C．Ordinary. | D．Destructive. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．Handle them gently. | B．Catch them immediately. |
| C．Leave them where they are. | D．Take them back to the ocean. |
4 . The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. It was one of the poorest nations in the region. Within the last five years, however, it has become a hot spot for adventure travelers. In 2006 it was voted the happiest place on Earth. The reason is not that Vanuatu are the richest but that Vanuatu has white-sand islands, clear waters, the world’s most accessible (可接近的) live volcano, great diving and food that grows faster than it can be picked.
With a population of about 221,000, Vanuatu has 113 languages, which is a result of 3,000 years of immigration from many Pacific countries. There are three official languages: English, French, and Bislama. Bislama developed from South Pacific English, a simplified language that traders and other foreigners used it to communicate with speakers of the many local languages.
Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Yasur on the island of Tanna, one of the world’s most accessible volcanoes. If you are interested in getting close to a volcano, here’s your chance.
Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office has quickly become one of the busiest post offices for postcards in the world! Visitors from around the world want to experience the world’s first under-water post office. The Post Office is only 50 meters offshore and at just three meters below the surface, very appealing to the young and young at heart. Since opening in 2003, the underwater post office has received about 100,000 visitors. They have posted one of the waterproof (防水的) postcards available in Vanuatu, these cards are collected regularly by one of Vanuatu Post’s four trained divers. The underwater branch is open daily for usually about an hour, longer with demand.
1. Vanuatu was voted the happiest place on Earth because ________.| A．it’s the poorest nation in the region |
| B．it’s Vanuatu that is the richest |
| C．it’s a favorite place for adventurers |
| D．it’s blessed with plentiful natural resources (自然资源) |
| A．Bislama developed from local Pacific French. |
| B．Yasur is one of the live volcanoes in Vanuatu. |
| C．Vanuatu has more than 113 official languages. |
| D．Underwater Post Office has opened for 2 years. |
| A．Working at the underwater branch. | B．Great diving in amazing Vanuatu. |
| C．A hot spot for adventure travelers. | D．The busiest post office on Earth. |
| A．Various languages. | B．Underwater diving. | C．Food in Vanuatu. | D．History of Vanuatu. |
5 . Coming up with a list of places to visit can be challenging. To save your trouble, we have completed a list of the top tourist attractions in the world.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Built in 1887, it’s the symbol of Paris and one of the most photographed buildings in the world. A visit to the Eiffel Tower is a must for all travelers. No other landmarks in the world inspire such a strong feeling of love for travel as this single iron structure (钢铁建筑).This is a city where travelers of all kinds can find the experience they're after.
The Statue of Liberty, New York City
America is full of great sights and places to visit, but it's the Statue of Liberty that symbolizes the United States. This symbol of freedom in New York City was gifted by the French to the American people in 1886. The best thing to do is to take a ride up to her crown (王冠) and get the view over the city.
The Acropolis, Athens
Standing above present-day Athens, the Acropolis draws you up and in. Follow in the footsteps of the ancients as you walk up the same steps that have been walked on since 438 BC. Views out over the city are amazing as you walk between the ancient buildings. Near the end of the day, you'll want to watch the sunset from the stairs near the entrance.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
If you’ve visited places like the Colosseum in Rome or the Acropolis in Athens, built over 2,000 years ago, you may think you have a good handle on ancient sites. But the Pyramids of Giza take ancient to a whole other level. These were built over 4,500 years ago. A sunset camel (骆驼) ride around the buildings is a wonderful experience.
1. Which can best describe the Statue of Liberty?| A．It’s the highest in the world. | B．It’s designed in 1886. |
| C．It’s a present from France. | D．It’s a single iron structure. |
| A．Take a camel ride. | B．Enjoy the sunset. |
| C．View New York City. | D．Explore ancient Rome. |
| A．Eiffel Tower. | B．The Acropolis. |
| C．Pyramids of Giza. | D．The Statue of Liberty. |
| A．The sea. | B．The weekend plan. | C．The weather. |
7 . It’s getting close to midnight, and close to my destination—mile marker 133 on Alaska’s Glenn Highway, where I’m on the road to realize a lifelong dream. I’m going to see the northern lights.
I am Scott’s only customer tonight, but whether it’s one person or a bridal party from Japan, the professional photographer and videographer loves to come put here to witness one of nature’s most spectacular shows — and to share it with others. “I can’t tell you how much joy I get from seeing the smile on people’s faces. That’s worth it right there. That’s the reason why I do tours,” he says.
I emerge from the van into minus 6 degrees. A bazillion stars sparkle, and the Milky Way pours overhead. What looks like a gray stream of cloud arches low over the horizon. “That’s it!” says Scott. Really? That’s it? I spent 13 hours in planes and airports, and then drove 2.5 hours to see a gray belt? “Patience,” he says. “It will get better. Wait till 2 am. That’s usually the best time.”
Aurora (极光) tourism is combined with winter activities like ice fishing, snow machine rides, and hot springs. As aurora guides and scientists will tell you, there’s no guarantee of a sighting. But Fairbanks is a statistically good bet because of its northern location and freedom from coastal clouds, which can be a challenge for Anchorage. Travelers are recommended to put aside at least three nights to improve your chances of viewing, with the idea that you’ll be up much of the night each time.
Each time he wakes me and I step outside, it appears more glorious. At first, a fuzz the size of a honeydew floats along the horizon. Another time, a broad green line stretches across the sky, followed by a short tail. “Do you see the red?” Scott asks. He has me look through his camera. It can see more color than the naked eye. Finally, as if playing a visual symphonic tune, a giant line of phosphorous (发磷光的) green seems to swoop down to the treetops and dollop them with a curlicue swirl. I’m smiling inside and out. We can go now.
1. What makes Scott like to do aurora tourism?| A．The chance to take spectacular photos. | B．The happiness of tourists. |
| C．The party to enjoy the norther lights. | D．His lifelong dream. |
| A．She felt very angry. | B．She was quite thrilled. |
| C．She was a little disappointed. | D．She gradually lost her patience. |
| A．It offers visitors a guaranteed sighting. |
| B．It’s located in the Antarctic Circle. |
| C．It has winter activities for travelers. |
| D．It’s free from coastal cloudy weather. |
| A．The beauty of aurora. | B．Scott’s camera. |
| C．The author’s departure. | D．The shapes of northern lights. |
8 . Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs.
AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost £169.15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room cost £118.15.
If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid—or you’re looking for a big event to pass your time—check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category.
STAY AWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday.
Don’t be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge’s Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was £95.95. A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was £75.75. And at Farringdon, a double room cost just £62.95.
LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Really central hotels in cities such as London, Edinburgh and Cardiff can cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As an alternative consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city central buildings. A great example is the historic O’Neill Flat on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, available for £420 for five days in late September, with room for four adults.
GET ON A BIKE London’s ‘Boris bikes’ have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programs that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs.
Among the smaller cities with their own programs are Newcastle (casual members pay around £1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or £5 per day).
1. The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may ________.| A．cause travelers to pay more for accommodation |
| B．help travelers pass time |
| C．allow travelers to make flexible plans |
| D．attract lots of travelers to the UK |
| A．the name of a travel agency | B．a hotel away from the train station |
| C．an ideal holiday destination | D．the tube line to Covent Garden |
| A．to show visitors the importance of self-help |
| B．to tell visitors how to book in advance |
| C．to offer visitors some money-saving tips |
| D．to supply visitors with hotel information |
| A．Engine trouble. | B．Poor weather. |
| C．Tall waterfalls. | D．Tight budget. |
| A．Amazing as well as tough. | B．Funny while incredible. |
| C．Disappointing but rewarding. | D．Fascinating and well-paid. |
| A．A mechanic. | B．A photographer. |
| C．A travel writer. | D．A weatherman. |
In June 1992, four farmers near the village of Shiyanbei in Zhejiang Province, China, made a(n)
Today, five of the caves are open to tourists, inviting them to experience the great wonders of
