1 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Li River, one of China’s most famous scenic areas, was listed     1     one of the world’s top ten watery wonders by National Geographic magazine.     2     was even considered one of the world’s 15 best rivers for travelers.

    3     (originate) in Mao’er Mountain in Xing’an county northeast of Guilin, Li River winds its way southeast for about 437 km, passing through Guilin, Yangshuo, Pingle, Zhaoping, and finally     4     ( meet) Xi River in Wulin. It boasts (拥有)the largest and most beautiful scenic area in China and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The 83-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is like a masterpiece. The landscape     5     (decorate) with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, as well as leisurely boats. A poem says, “The river is a green silk ribbon, and the hills are jade hair-pins”.

Cruising (航游) on Li River is always a     6     (please). You can breathe the fresh air, feel gentle breeze     7     appreciate the wonderful landscape on both sides of Li River. In spring,     8     (feel) the mizzle (细雨) fall onto their faces, tourists may stand on the front of a boat,     9     is truly a wonderful experience.

Mostly, the cruise starts from Zhujiang Wharf(码头). After about an     10     ( hour ) drive from Guilin city, a cruiser will then take you to Yangshuo, a beautiful ancient city, to start a wonderful journey.

2 . Amazing Castles in Spain: Four of the Best

The Alcázar of Segovia

Fans of old Disney movies will know what Snow White’s castle looks like. But did you know that it’s said to be based on a real castle in Spain — the Alcázar of Segovia? This castle is almost the shape of the front of a ship — built on a rock between two rivers. First used by the Romans, its location made it a very difficult place to attack. It’s one of thousands of amazing castles in Spain.

Bellver Castle

Many people visit Mallorca for its bars and beaches, but if you’re on this island, take a trip to Bellver Castle, just outside the main city of Palma. This 14th century castle is known for the large ring at its center, something that is unusual in European castles. People can also walk around the top of the central ring, which offers views of the castle below, as well as over the town and out to sea.

The Alhambra

One of the most popular places in the country to visit, Granada’s Alhambra is a fortress (堡垒) built by the North Africans who ruled Spain for more than seven centuries. Visitors love the palaces inside known as the Palacios Nazaries, with their beautiful wooden ceilings. Travel website Lonely Planet says these palaces are the most beautiful Islamic buildings in Europe.

Coca Castle

From far away, this castle in central Spain looks a little like a wedding cake — if wedding cakes were brown - brick and in the Gothic style. This castle isn’t on the top of a hill but on flat land — it was protected instead by a deep moat (护城河). It’s not too difficult to get to by car from Madrid, the Spanish capital.

1. What can people do in Bellver Castle?

A．Watch old Disney movies.	B．Enjoy the wooden ceilings inside.
C．Have a good time on the beaches.	D．Walk around a large ring to enjoy views.

2. What do The Alcázar of Segovia and Coca Castle have in common?

A．They were built by the Romans.	B．They were made of brown brick.
C．They have distinctive appearance.	D．They are on the top of mountain.

3. Who will most probably be interested in the passage?

A．Those who like to surf the Internet.	B．Those who intend to take boat trips.
C．Those who are keen on natural landscape.	D．Those who plan to visit different buildings.

3 . The sun is about to set when we reach our destination, the home of a nomadic (游牧的) herder (牧民) family. My host, Batbayer, has a cheerful face, with deep wrinkles and a color from long hours working outdoors, giving him the look of a sailor from an Ernest Hemingway novel. We have pre-arranged our visit but travellers in Mongolia can drive up to pretty much any ger and feel welcomed to stay. You don’t knock on the door: when you approach a nomadic family, a customary greeting is to say a kindly “Hold your dog,” even if you don’t see a dog.

We feast at the family home on one of the country’s most distinct and tasty dishes: khorkhog, or mutton cooked using hot rocks. This comes served with onions, a variety of berries, and milk — besides more plates of meat, all from the family’s own livestock (家畜).

Mongolia is home to one of the world’s few remaining truly nomadic cultures. About a fifth of the population are herders, and nomadism is complicatedly woven into the country’s spirit. But modern life is catching up with the people on the grassland at rapid speed. This is in large part what my book is about: an outsider’s exploration of a society undergoing modernisation while trying to hold fast to its deeply rooted traditional values.

Many of the livestock here, especially the more valuable breeds such as horses, camels and   cattle, are implanted with microchips that can be monitored via satellite-based services. “I would like to use the internet more because it’s fun and useful; but the animals like it here. This is a good place for them,” Batbayer says when I ask if better internet connectivity might influence where to move his livestock next. “I would never choose Facebook over the wellbeing of the animals.”

1. Which aspect of the herders does the author focus on in paragraph 1?

A．Living conditions.

B．Pet preference.

C．Reading habits.

D．Friendliness.

2. What do we know about nomadic culture?

A．Herders’ life is being modernized.

B．It is the world’s dominant culture.

C．The majority of Mongolians are herders.

D．Herders have no access to fruits and vegetables

3. What can we infer from Batbayer’s words in the last paragraph?

A．He refuses to use social media.	B．He will no longer employ microchips.
C．He will introduce more valuable breeds.	D．He prioritizes the welfare of livestock.

4. What is the text?

A．A travel journal.

B．A folk tale.

C．A book review.

D．A field report.

5 . Museum Tours

There are many ways to visit SAAM and the Renwick Gallery and they’re all free!
Gallery Tours for All Ages

 Group Tours

Group tours are available by request for adult groups of eight or more. Choose from a variety of themes, including current special exhibitions. Request 3 to 4 weeks in advance.

 Walk-in Tours

Walk-in tours are sometimes available. Check with the Information Desk when you arrive. If a walk-in tour is scheduled for that day:
SAAM walk-in tours start at 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. every day of the week and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.   
Renwick walk-in tours start at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. every day except Sunday. There are no tours on Sundays.

 Self-guided Tours

Self-guided tours using your smartphone are available throughout SAAM. Scan the QR codes to bring lots of information to your fingertips!
Access Programs
Free tours are available online and in our galleries at SAAM or the Renwick Gallery:
–in American Sign Language (ASL);
–for people with low vision;
–for people with mental disorders and their care partners.
There is no minimum group size for Access tours.
School Tours
We welcome learners of all abilities and from all settings. School tours at SAAM and the Renwick Gallery are:
–for kindergarten through college;
–in line with national curriculum standards;
–interactive and interdisciplinary.
School tours last 60 minutes. Want more time in the galleries? Ask about additional activities. Request 4 to 6 weeks in advance.
Virtual Programs

 Online School Tours:

–for 3rd grade through 12th grade;
–in line with national curriculum standards;
–40 to 60 minutes long.
Request 4 to 6 weeks in advance.

 Online Adult Tours:

–available by request;
–45 to 60 minutes long;
–focus on a variety of themes, including highlights and special exhibitions;
–interactive and conversational.
Request 4 to 6 weeks in advance.
1. If you want to take a walk-in tour, you can visit the SAAM Gallery at ______.

A．12:00 pm on Monday	B．4:30 pm on Wednesday
C．1:00 pm on Sunday	D．3:30 pm on Tuesday

2. What do we know about the Access Programs?

A．Tours are available in English only.

B．There is a minimum group size of 8 for Access tours.

C．People with mental illness can visit the galleries with their care partners.

D．People with poor sight cannot have access to the free tours in the galleries.

3. From the passage, we can know ______.

A．SAAM and the Renwick Gallery offer paid tours for adult groups

B．school tours are consistent with educational curriculum standards

C．requests for online tours should be made at least 3 weeks in advance

D．visitors can use smartphones to enjoy self-guided tours in Renwick Gallery

6 . Dubai is home to some of the best hotels in the world.

Armani Hotel Dubai

Located inside the world’s tallest building, the distinguished Burj Khalifa, Armani Hotel features a contemporary look crafted by house design superstar Giorgio. Armani. It offers 160 stylish rooms right in the center of the city. It features seven restaurants and bars including traditional Indian food at the Armani Amal and fresh seafood at Armani Hashi.

The Oberoi Dubai

With one of the best locations in the Business Bay District, the Oberoi Dubai offers great appeal for business travelers and those enjoying the host of leisure activities in the central area. The modern hotel comes equipped with 252 upscale rooms featuring contemporary designs. Restaurant choices include the Nine7One featuring Western, Arabic, and Asian cuisines, as well as La Mezcalcria Kitchen& Lounge which serves up authentic Latin dishes.

The Taj Dubai

Situated in the Business Bay District right on Burj Khalifa street is the five-star hotel Taj Dubai. It offers Indian heritage designs with both classical and contemporary styles. It has close to 300 rooms from luxury rooms with city and Burj Khalifa views to grand luxury and presidential suites. Dining options include Asian street food at Miss Tess to contemporary British dishes and international delights at the Eloquent Elephant.

Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai

Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai, positioned behind Ain Dubai—the world’s largest observation wheel, is decorated with attractive art collections by designer Jonathan Adler. It has 194 luxurious suites and rooms, and features the best of the city’s nightlife attractions and fine dining including world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen.

1. Which can you enjoy in the Armani Hotel Dubai?

A．Fresh seafood.	B．Latin dishes.
C．Asian street food.	D．British food.

2. What do the Oberoi Dubai and The Taj Dubai have in common?

A．They are five-star hotels.

B．They are in the same district.

C．They have presidential suites.

D．They have the same number of rooms.

3. What can we know about Caesars Palace Bluewaters?

A．It hosts leisure activities.

B．It has rooms with city views.

C． It is designed by Jonathan Adler.

D．It is near the world’s largest observation wheel.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Before the lecture on ancient Chinese architecture, Li Wei, an expert in “dougong”, which translates as “interlocking wooden brackets (斗拱)” and refers to architectural elements used in traditional Chinese     1     (building), examined the complex designs, which showcase the precision and craftsmanship (手工艺) of ancient builders.

Wearing     2     traditional robe and a pointed hat, Li Wei appeared as a knowledgeable historian, ready     3     (share) insights into the architectural miracles.

The lecture     4     (focus) on the Forbidden City, which is one of the most symbolic examples of ancient Chinese architecture,     5     (date) back to the Ming Dynasty.

“Typically, I discuss architecture     6     (build) during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but for this special session, I will explore the early architectural influences that paved the way for these grand structures,” said Li Wei, who     7     (research) ancient Chinese architecture for more than a decade.

Li Wei’s passion for preserving the historical significance of ancient buildings aligns with the mission of the National Heritage Foundation,     8     is dedicated to the protection and promotion of China’s rich architectural legacy (遗产).

The foundation works tirelessly to ensure that these architectural treasures,     9     an integral part of China’s cultural heritage,     10     (preserve) for future generations.