Everyone loves a holiday! A little time off for some much-needed R&R (Rest and Recreation) can be
Everybody has a lineage (宗系). Recently, finding out more about our family origins has gained
This trend has been noticed
Airbnb recently partnered with 23andMe, a DNA testing and analysis company, to offer recommendations that entourage travelers to walk in the footsteps of their forefathers. And they aren’t
A hotel in Dublin has its own “genealogy butler (管家)”,
So next time you think of going on vocation, why not take a DNA test first? Once you know how far your family has come,
2 . Like clockwork, warm weather slips away and autumn begins its descent on the Northern Hemisphere, bringing with it rich colors that transform forests, woodlands and parks.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew houses one of the most diverse collections of living plants of any botanic garden on the planet, including around 14,000 trees. Every autumn, its 500 acres of woodland deliver an extraordinary spectacle of brilliant red and yellow as leaves of oak, chestnut, maple and hickory trees begin to change. Visit before 30 November to join a guide d trees tour and learn how different species are coping with the changing seasons and adapting to climate change.
Brechfa Forest, Abergorlech
Brechfa Forest covers some 16,000 acres in Carmarthenshire, Wales, making it easy for walkers to immerse themselves in woodlands transformed by autumn’s finest colours. It become a blend of red and purple in November. After your walk, drive to Carmarthen, one of the oldest towns in Wales, for lunch and a visit to the castle. Some say that the castle was named after King Arthur’s wizard, Merlin, as its Welsh name — Caerfyrddin —means ‘Merlin’s fort’
Batsford Arboretum, Cotswolds
More than 1,300 different trees, shrubs (灌木) and bamboos are showcased at Batsford Arboretum, near the picture-perfect town of Moreton-in-Marsh. This private botanical garden covers 60 acres, providing outstanding colours between late October and November. Highlights include trees ranging from red to purple. Prebooking tickets during autumn is recommended to avoid the crowds.
Catbells, Cumbria
The Lake District is dotted with many viewpoints, but the sights from the Catbells walking route are a particular standout come autumn. Once you’ve walked back down, take a leisurely ferry ride to the quaint market town of Keswick, seeing epic views of autumnal hills reflected in the water on the way.
1. What is special about the visit to Brechfa Forest, Abergorlech?| A．Visitors can enjoy beautiful mountain scenery. | B．Visitors can enjoy trees full of fine colors. |
| C．Visitors can go hiking among mountains. | D．Visitors can visit a mysterious castle. |
| A．Royal Botanic Gardens | B．Brechfa Forest |
| C．Batsford Arboretum, Cotswolds | D．Catbells, Cumbria |
| A．All are suitable places to visit all over the year. |
| B．All are brilliant sites with beautiful autumn scenery. |
| C．All sites are hard to reach for people with children. |
| D．All sites have access to delicious food children like. |
3 . 
Located in the northeast of Italy, Venice is well-known for its cultural treasures, romantic atmosphere and unusual living-on-water experience. The city spreads out over 118 islands, which are linked by more than 400 bridges, in the Venetian Lagoon.
Venice’s historical center consists of six regions. San Polo in the middle and San Marco in the south, the busiest main regions, are linked by the Rialto Bridge. The famous stone arch bridge crosses Venice’s main waterway — the Grand Canal. When night falls, many tourists enjoy dinner at the outside tables by the Grand Canal while watching colorfully lit boats going by.
Near the end of the S-shaped Grand Canal lies St. Mark’s Basilica, a must-see. Inside, beautiful mosaics tell stories of Bible figures. Nearby are the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. These were made famous by Lord Byron, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and prison on each hand.” Legend has it that if a couple passes under the bridge, their love will last forever.
In the square outside the Basilica, lovers of literature can sit at Caffe Florian, regarded as the oldest coffee house in Europe. Charles Dickens, Henry James as well as Lord Byron enjoyed the wonderful drink here.
Art lovers should buy a museum pass and visit some of the city’s unusual museums. They can view works by Venetian masters like Giovanni, Titian and Tintoretto.
On five small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, Murano has been home to glass-makers since 1291. Tourists can visit factories, studios and the Glass Museum. Glass artists produce everything from simple souvenir pieces to beautiful works of modern art. Only glassworks made using traditional methods on Murano can be called Murano Glass. The nearby island of Burano is famous for lace making and colorful houses. Looking at the colorful houses and kaleidoscopic streets makes people feel as if they were walking in the fairy tale.
The City of Water promises beauty of all kinds, and it definitely lives up to its promise.
1. Why does the author mention Lord Byron’s words?| A．To introduce the famous British poet. |
| B．To explain why the two places are famous. |
| C．To show why St. Mark’s Basilica is a must-see. |
| D．To compare the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. |
| A．Caffe Florian. | B．The city’s museum. |
| C．St. Mark’s Basilica. | D．The Bridge of Sighs. |
| A．Bridges. | B．Lace making. | C．Glassworks. | D．Colorful houses. |
| A．Venice’s modern art. | B．Venice’s local customs. |
| C．Venice’s natural scenery. | D．Venice’s attractions with its beauty. |
4 . Traveling is a unique experience and it helps us forget about our problems, frustrations, and fears at home. During our journey, we explore new places, cultures, cuisines, traditions, and ways of living.
Traveling gives us a better understanding of the world.
If you remain in your hometown or country for your whole life, it’s hard to fully understand the world.
Traveling allows us to establish new relationships.
Traveling makes meeting new people very easy. We are constantly surrounded by other people, whether we find ourselves in a hotel bar or on an excursion (远足).
Traveling enhances (促进) personal growth.
Traveling often involves stepping out of our comfort zone and experiencing new things. These new experiences help us grow on a personal level.
| A．The similarities are what bring us together. |
| B．We could never experience these things at home. |
| C．Traveling challenges our beliefs and values in life. |
| D．Traveling helps improve our communication skills. |
| E．Every country can be vastly different from another. |
| F．We can easily connect over food, new places, music, and culture. |
| G．Each travel journey brings unique situations and challenges to overcome. |
5 . The cost of living in countries like the US, Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years. However, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting an extremely cheap and low cost of living. Check out the following countries when planning your next move.
Ecuador
Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on a budget in the US. You can even buy a building for around $ 50, 000 and hire someone to look after it while you’re away.
Mexico
Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there $are many wealthier areas that provide every facility you might need. You can live off a mere $ 700 to $ 800 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, facilities, food, and any sightseeing.
Argentina
Argentina has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has great restaurants, a rich history, and many places to explore. Not to mention, it’s not very expensive to live here. A decent sized home can cost around $ 139, 000, which is relatively cheap in relation to homes in the United States.
Vietnam
Vietnam has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years. There are many million-dollar luxury homes by the beach, but you can find a modest flat or a small home for around $ 25,000 to $ 50,000 if you search in the right areas.
1. In which country is the US Dollar used for its currency?| A．Argentina. | B．Mexico. |
| C．Ecuador. | D．Vietnam. |
| A．About $ 7,000. | B．About $ 8,000. |
| C．About $ 8,800. | D．About $ 12,000. |
| A．They have great restaurants. |
| B．The cost of living is expensive. |
| C．The middle-sized homes cost around $ 139,000. |
| D．Tourists enjoy travelling in the two countries. |
6 . Most Famous Libraries in the World
Trinity College Library
Designed by Thomas Burgh, the library is the largest in Ireland. Construction on the Long Room, the library’s 65-meter-long main hall, began in 1712 and lasted 20 years. The original structure only had books on the lower level, but when the library’s shelves were filled in the 1850s, the ceiling was raised to accommodate even more books. Today the Long Room holds 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.
Stuttgart City Library
Opened in 2011, the German library is a splendid light-gray cube consisting of glass blocks designed by Eun Young Yi. Inside it, you’ll find an airy central room, above which sits a multi-story stepped reading room lined with bookshelves. The library towers over the nearby buildings.
Library of Parliament
Taking the form of a Victorian Gothic chapter house complete with 16 flying buttresses, the 1876 Library of Parliament is one of Canada’s prized architectural treasures — it’s on the ten-dollar bill. Architects Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones took inspiration from the British Museum Reading Room for the structure, lining the central hall with delicate wood shelves and wood carvings.
Rampur Raza Library
Founded in the late 18th century, the Indian library is home to a massive collection of Islamic and Asian texts and objects. The pink structure that houses the collection today was built in 1904 by Nawab Hamid Ali Khan as a mansion of Indo-European style, The Rampur Raza Library was later shifted to this grand building in 1957.
1. Of the following libraries, which is the oldest?| A．Trinity College Library. | B．Library of Parliament. |
| C．Stuttgart City Library. | D．Rampur Raza Library. |
| A．Eun Young Yi. | B．Thomas Burgh. |
| C．Nawab Hamid Ali Khan. | D．Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. |
| A．They house the rarest books. | B．They were unusually designed. |
| C．They were expanded as needed. | D．They overlook surrounding buildings. |
7 . Holidays
Holiday News Vacancies(空位) now and in the school holidays at a country hotel in Devon. This comfortable, friendly home-from-home lies near the beautiful quiet countryside, but just a drive away from the sea. The food is simple but good. Children and pets are welcome. Reduced prices for low season. |
The Snowdonia Centre The Snowdonia Centre for young mountain climbers has a mountain climbing lesson. The beginners’ costs are ￡57 for a week, including food and rooms. Equipment is included except walking shoes, which can be hired at a low cost. You must be in good health and prepared to go through a period of body exercises. This could be the beginning of a lifetime of mountain climbing adventure. |
The World Sea Trip of a Lifetime Our World Sea Trip of 2008 will be unlike any holiday you have ever been on before. Instead of one hotel after another, with all its packing and unpacking, waiting and traveling, you just go to bed in one country and wake up in another. On board the ship, you will be well taken care of. Every meal will be first-class and every cabin like your home. During the trip, you can rest on deck(甲板), enjoy yourself in the games rooms and in the evening dance to our musical team and watch our wonderful play. You will visit all the places most people only dream about — from Acapulco and Hawaii to Tokoy and Hong Kong. For a few thousand pounds, all you’ve ever hoped for can be yours. |
| A．Choose the holiday in Devon. | B．Go to the Snowdonia Centre. |
| C．Join the World Sea Trip of 2008. | D．Visit Acapulco and Hawaii. |
| A．It provides chances of family gatherings. | B．It provides customers with good food. |
| C．It offers a sports lesson. | D．It offers comfortable rooms. |
| A．You can have free meals on deck every day. |
| B．You can sleep on a ship and tour many places. |
| C．You will have chances to watch and act in a play. |
| D．You have to do your own packing and unpacking. |
| A．Their friend Jane. | B．A weekend trip. | C．A radio programme. |
9 . With the summer holiday just around the corner, it seems like everybody is busy planning their vacations. Here are some tips that can help you enjoy your holiday without emptying your pocket.
Travel off-season
Go to your desired destination while the demand is low and take advantage of huge discounts. During the peak season, the hotel and flight prices increase quickly, and you’ll likely spend more of your vacation time standing in line due to the rush of tourists.
Websites can help you find discount hotel rooms. Look for places that do not charge extra for children if they use the existing bedding. Stay with the locals. If you and your family are going to stay for a longer period, renting a small apartment is a good choice.
Eat like a local
Why eat at big chain restaurants when you can experience something new? Planning your meals is another way to reduce your travel costs. During your family trip, try new food where the locals eat.
Don’t hesitate to bargain
Tourist-heavy places are known for overcharging for just about everything. Clothes, travel goodies, souvenirs, etc are very expensive at these places. For this reason, you shouldn’t feel ashamed to ask for bargains.
Choose local transportation
As a tourist, avoid taking taxis whenever possible, since they are expensive.
| A．Save on hotels. |
| B．Surf the Internet while traveling. |
| C．Therefore, avoid buying anything there. |
| D．So it’s best to find out when the off-season starts. |
| E．This will not only save money, but offer you a new and different experience. |
| F．Bargain hard to get the best price. |
| G．Instead, take buses, railways or subways. which are always cheaper. |
