1 . The Leshan Giant Buddha is a statue of Maitreya (弥勒佛) in sitting posture. The Buddha is located in Sichuan Province, facing Minjiang, Qingyi and Dadu rivers. In December, 1996, the Buddha was included by UNESCO on the list of the World Heritage List.
Facing the river，the Buddha has symmetrical (对称的) posture and looks which have been beautifully captured in its solemn (庄严的) stillness. The statue was begun in the year 713 in the Tang Dynasty, and finished in the year 803. The Buddha is 71 meters high. And its 8-meter-long instep (脚背) is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 28-meter-wide shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground.
It was a monk called Hai Tong who initiated the project. His concern was for the safety of the ordinary people who earned their living around the joint of the three rivers. Tempestuous and wild waters brought out numerous boat accidents and the simple people put the disaster down to the presence of a water spirit. So Hai Tong decided to carve a giant statue beside the river thinking that the Buddha would bring the water spirit under control. Besides, the fallen stones dropped during the carving would reduce the water force there.
After 20 years’ begging from door to door, he finally collected enough money for the plan. When some local government officials tried to get this amount of money, Hai Tong said that they could get his eyeballs but not the money raised for the Buddha. After he dug out his eyeballs, these officials ran away in fear. The project was half done when long-suffering Hai Tong passed away, and two of his disciples (门徒) continued the work. After a total of 90 years’ hard work, the project was eventually accomplished.
Having such a long history, the Buddha was nearly destroyed by the erosion (侵蚀) of wind and rain. And with its worldwide fame, the renovation of the Buddha has received extensive attention both at home and abroad. Then in 1963 the Chinese government began the repairing work under the instructions of experts from UNESCO. And at present, the maintenance work is still in progress.
1. What was Hai Tong’s purpose to build the statue?| A．To gain fame. |
| B．To spread Buddhism. |
| C．To respect the water spirit. |
| D．To protect local people. |
| A．By begging for money. |
| B．By working on the river. |
| C．By asking the government. |
| D．By building businesses. |
| A．Generous. | B．Social. |
| C．Devoted. | D．Cruel. |
| A．Innovation. | B．Art and culture. |
| C．Policy watch. | D．Forum trends. |
2 . There are thousands of incredible trails that allow us to get up close to nature and here are 4 of the best hiking trails in the world.
Pennine Way, the United Kingdom
Stretching 268 miles from the Derbyshire Peak District to the Scottish Borders, the Pennine Way is the United Kingdom’s most famous long-distance path. The entire walk takes around three weeks, passing over wild east of Manchester and through the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, before crossing the ancient border of Hadrian’s Wall and moving on toward Scotland.
Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Rather than following a single path, the Camino, also known as the Way of St James, is actually a series of different pilgrimage (朝圣) routes. The most popular modern route follows a line across northern Spain from the French Pyrenees. While some choose to stay at monasteries (修道院) along the way, plenty of operators offer hotel stays and luggage transfers.
Appalachian Trail, the United States
Extending for 2,200 miles, the Appalachian Trail is billed as the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. It runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, passing through some of the most remote places in the United States. Those keen on comfort can use companies like Go Shenandoah, which offers pre-booked accommodation and packed lunches.
The Basho Wayfarer, Japan
This self-guided trip follows a route taken by the poet Matsuo Basho over 300 years ago. The six-day hike starts in Sendai and works its way through the northern Toboku region, passing through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hiraizumi and along the ancient Dewa Kaido path, with its wonderful forests, before heading into the mountains of Natagiri-toge and finishing at the temple of Yamadera.
1. Which hiking trail will allow hikers to see the old wall?| A．Pennine Way. | B．Appalachian Trail. |
| C．The Basho Wayfarer. | D．Camino de Santiago de Compostela. |
| A．They have more than one popular route. |
| B．They have beautiful scenery along the way. |
| C．Hikers on the two trails can get the desired help. |
| D．Hikers on the two trails may get across two countries. |
| A．Stay at a monastery. | B．Visit famous ancient sites. |
| C．Find a guide to accompany him. | D．Pre-book accommodation and lunches. |
Hangzhou, located in the north of Zhejiang province, is one of the seven ancient
The West Lake is definitely a place people can never miss when visiting Hangzhou. The lake itself cowers 6 square kilometres, and some of Hangzhou’s most famous scenic places
Hefang Street is where you can experience how Hangzhou
The Xixi wetland is not only China’s first national wetland park, but also a natural haven from the busy city life,
As UNESCO says on its
4 . You may have your favorite family spots on Long Island where you frequently take the kids. But there may be unexpected places you haven't explored yet.
Animal Exhibit
Not only will you see fish, reptiles and amphibians here, but you'll also see baby alligators and other rescued animals. Kids can also learn about science and participate in programs and workshops throughout the year. The Animal Exhibit is also a hotspot for science-themed birthday parties.
The Mattituck Strawberry Festival
The Mattituck Strawberry Festival kicks off the summer season with sweet treats and more. Long Island is known for numerous and extremely popular fairs and festivals that take place throughout the year. Other summer festivals include the Sayville SummerFest, St. Rocco's Feast, Brookhaven Fair and more. The fall season offers the largest abundance of fairs and festivals, such as the Pickle Festival, Oyster Festival, Long Island Fall Festival and many Hallo ween-themed festivals in Nassau and Suffolk.
Home Depot Kids Workshop
Does your kid enjoy making things by hand? You may want to take a trip to Home Depot Kids Workshop. Offered on the first Saturday morning of each month, workshops allow little ones to build and craft items, such as a skateboard pencil box that they can decorate and keep.
Chuck E. Cheesed
As soon as you. walk through the doors you're instantly greeted by the sounds of other kids laughing as they play arcade games to win prizes and enjoy an animatronic show. After hours of play, check out their restaurant with kid-friendly options.
1. Who is the text specially targeted at?| A．Children. | B．Tour guides. | C．Parents. | D．Students. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．At Animal Exhibit. | B．At The Mattituck Strawberry Festival. |
| C．At Home Depot Kids Workshop. | D．At Chuck E. Cheese's. |
5 . When the Italian traveler Marco Polo came to Hangzhou in the 13th century, he thought he was in the most charming (迷人的) city in the world. And Hangzhou often
It was named one of the top ten “Foreigners’ Favorite Cities in China” on Nov. 6, according to a survey jointly (共同地)
The West Lake is
Hangzhou is a city with a history of more than two thousand years, so there are dozens of
Hangzhou’s romantic characteristics are shared by both the local people and
| A．called | B．made | C．given | D．ordered |
| A．shocking | B．charming | C．encouraging | D．tiring |
| A．kept | B．gained | C．done | D．tiring |
| A．rarely | B．finally | C．secretly | D．probably |
| A．surrounded | B．prevented | C．supported | D．improved |
| A．lady | B．lake | C．water | D．bridge |
| A．historic | B．modern | C．natural | D．practical |
| A．hoped | B．helped | C．started | D．decided |
| A．usually | B．finally | C．really | D．directly |
| A．snow | B．wind | C．rain | D．sun |
| A．disappears | B．freezes | C．remains | D．awakes |
| A．broken | B．destroyed | C．burned | D．covered |
| A．queued | B．fought | C．sat | D．met |
| A．foreigners | B．businessmen | C．visitors | D．experts |
| A．throw | B．enjoy | C．change | D．send |
注意：（1）词数80左右；（2）开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mr. Smith,
How is it going? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
Being the biggest and the oldest in America, the Chinatown in San Francisco is a very popular tourist attraction,
In the 1906 earthquake, most of Chinatown
Chinatowns play
8 . The Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China’s Sichuan Province enjoyed huge popularity during the threeday Qingming Festival holidays by receiving nearly 20, 000 visitors on the peak day, after the new archaeological discoveries brought international attention.
According to media reports, the museum saw over 15, 000 visitors on Saturday, the first day of the Qingming Festival, breaking its record for daily visitors. And on the next day, more visitors swarmed into the museum to exceed (超过) 19, 800. To cope with the large flow of people, on Sunday afternoon, the official Weibo account of the Sanxingdui Museum released the message to remind visitors of avoiding rush hours or rescheduling their visiting time.
The Sanxingdui Museum showcases various kinds of precious cultural relics unearthed at the site, such as the 2. 62metertall standing statue, 1. 38meterwide bronze mask, 3. 95meterhigh bronze tree. Earlier on March 20, Chinese archaeologists announced some new major discoveries made during the 37th excavation (挖掘) since its last excavation 35 years ago. The ruins were first discovered in the late 1920s and first excavated in 1934. More than 500 important cultural relics have been unearthed in the six newlyfound pits. Since the new discoveries were known to the public, the number of people visiting the Sanxingdui Museum has increased sharply.
The museum said although they are open as usual, the newlyfound pits have not opened to the public yet and the newlyexcavated cultural relics are still under restoration and cannot meet the public currently. But a hall for cultural relic conservation and restoration will be in pilot operation in April and officially open on May 18. Visitors to it can see how the relics are restored, according to Zhu Yarong, vice director of the Sanxingdui Museum.
Dating back about 3, 000 years, the Sanxingdui Ruins have shed light on the ancient Shu civilization and cultural origins of the Chinese nation, and have been regarded as one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century.
1. What mainly brought about a surge in tourists visiting the Sanxingdui Museum?| A．Tourists’ enthusiasm. |
| B．Sichuan Province’s policy. |
| C．Qingming Festival holidays. |
| D．New archaeological discoveries. |
| A．The official Weibo account linked the museum with the public. |
| B．Newlyexcavated cultural relics on display attracted tourists very much. |
| C．The Sanxingdui Museum reacted immediately to the large flow of tourists. |
| D．Tourist numbers reached the peak on the first day of the Qingming Festival. |
| A．Trial. | B．Private. | C．Official. | D．Personal. |
9 . Getting around Valencia can be exhausting on foot if you want to see it all, but luckily, the city is very bike-friendly.
Valencia Bike Tour From The City To The BeachDuration: 3 Hours
This 3-hour Valencia bike tour takes you on a lovely journey from the historic center to the beach where you’ll enjoy a drink at the end. If you’re looking for a truly personalized experience, this is it. The guide is super knowledgeable and gives lots of inside information about the sites you pass and local culture along the way.
Valencia By Night Bike TourDuration: 2 Hours
With the warm lights of the historic center’s cobbled streets, cycling around Valencia is so different than in the day. The tour takes you through Turia Park to the City of Arts and Sciences which is impressively lit up at night. As you cycle past different tourist attractions, the guide will let you in on the history and culture of the city.
Valencia Bike TourDuration: 3 Hours
Being one of the classical guided bike tours Valencia offers, this takes you to the main tourist attractions in the old town like the Valencia Cathedral, the Silk Exchange, and the Serranos Towers. You’ll bike in Valencia’s longest park, Turia Park, which leads to the City of Arts and Sciences and a must-visit on any trip to the city. On different stops, the guide will fill in with history and anecdotes about the places you pass.
Valencia Group Half-Day Bike TourDuration: 3 Hours
This tour takes you through the old town of Valencia where you’ll see the top tourist spots like the Valencia Cathedral and the Silk Exchange along the way on your own. You’ll pass the City Hall and the complex on your way to Turia Park where Valencia’s bike paths are at their best. Eventually, you’ll reach the City of Arts and Sciences where you can admire the modern architecture and learn more about the impressive complex.
1. What can we know about Valencia?| A．It is a city where you’ll feel tired. |
| B．It has the longest park in the world. |
| C．Its public transport needs improving. |
| D．It is well equipped with bicycle roads. |
| A．Valencia Bike Tour. |
| B．Valencia Group Half-Day Bike Tour. |
| C．Valencia By Night Bike Tour. |
| D．Valencia Bike Tour From The City To The Beach. |
| A．It leads to the Silk Exchange. |
| B．It is a tour without a guide. |
| C．It offers a drink at the end. |
| D．It takes longer to finish the tour. |
10 . The icy beauty of the Arctic attracts thousands of visitors every year to see its wonderful wildlife, landscape and local cultures. Visitors can take ships on a voyage along the Arctic Ocean or take flights to cities along the Arctic edge. No matter how one gets there, they should wear warm clothes and get ready to take in the attractions.
“Travelling to the Arctic leaves an unforgettable impression on the visitor. Its vast expanse and the fragility of its environment are two things that really blow away people,” said Cheryl Rosa, the director of the US Arctic Research Commission.
Visitors to the Arctic Circle will have a lot of activities to choose from if they want to see all that the region has to offer. Hiking with snowshoes, dog sledding and kayaking are common activities. Visitors with sharp eyes are likely to spot polar bears. To get even closer to the animals of the sea, visitors can go polar snorkeling with seals. Of course, Arctic adventures aren't complete without viewing the wonders of the Arctic Circle's large glaciers and icebergs as well.
One of the most impressive attractions and maybe the most difficult to see is the Northern Lights, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. They are natural lights that glow a brilliant green and light up the horizon. Sometimes they appear as waves that dance across the sky in different colors.
The best places to view the Northern Lights are in Northern Norway, Sweden's Abisko National Park , Iceland, America's Alaska or Canada's Yukon, according to space.com. Charles Deehr, an expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute , recommended planning a trip between winter and spring, especially when there is a new moon.
Even though the Arctic is a popular tourist destination, don't forget that people live here too. “It is recommended that visitors go with tour groups that are respectful of Arctic residents (居民) and their culture,” said Rosa. “Too many people can disturb the small villages. Finding tour groups that work with local communities is important.”
1. The underlined part “blow away” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”.| A．defeat | B．affect | C．move | D．impress |
| A．They only produce green light at night. |
| B．They are natural lights and hard to see. |
| C．They seldom occur between winter and spring. |
| D．The best time to view them is when there is a full moon. |
| A．Tour groups are not welcome among Arctic residents. |
| B．The Arctic's population has been rising in recent years. |
| C．Visitors should choose suitable tour groups when visiting. |
| D．Tour groups should get permission from local communities. |
| A．To inform visitors of local culture. |
| B．To recommend some activities to visitors. |
| C．To introduce a popular tourist destination. |
| D．To share a travel experience in the Arctic. |
