1 . The European Towns and Cities That Are Magical at Christmas
Hallstatt, AustriaThe town of Hallstatt and its beautiful landscape enjoy UNESCO protection. The old townhouses, tiny lanes and snow make this the ultimate destination forgetting into the festive mood. Hallstatt’s Christmas market is the stuff of legend. Picture a brightly lit tree and stalls selling decorations and handicrafts and you’re halfway to imagining just how special this spot is.
Valkenburg, NetherlandsValkenburg has much of the usual European Christmas charms to attract visitors. However, what makes it special is the fact that they can all be found underground. The town’s Christmas Caves have become internationally renowned, with a wide range of stalls selling festive gifts and decorations. The larger Municipality Cave is home to one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe.
Wroclaw, PolandWroclaw is regarded as one of Poland’s most beautiful cities, but it takes things to another level at Christmas. The city’s Christmas market is home to over 250 stalls and a superb fair. The architecture here captures the Christmas feeling too, with Gothic structures meaning everyone can tap into the special feeling that only comes round at this time of year.
Gothenburg, SwedenGothenburg is full of festive surprises for those willing to risk traveling north and brave the Scandinavian chill. And chief among them is the Liseberg Christmas Market. Set in an amusement park celebrating its100th anniversary in 2023, visitors can enjoy rides here and taste delicacies (佳肴) from across the country, including pickled herring, reindeer and spiced wine.
1. Which of the following places has underground Christmas charms?| A．Hallstatt. | B．Valkenburg. | C．Wroclaw. | D．Gothenburg. |
| A．They have amusement parks. | B．They feature Gothic buildings. |
| C．They provide Christmas markets. | D．They enjoy UNESCO protection. |
| A．News. | B．Business. | C．Nature. | D．Travel. |
2 . With the approaching of New Year, more and more visitors will come to China. Don’t know where you should go? Here are some places recommended for you.
Shanghai Expo Culture Park
The Shanghai Expo Culture Park will soon open its northern section to the public, in which the major attractions include a traditional garden that is similar in design to Shanghai’s famous Yuyuan Garden and a 400-meter avenue exhibiting the history of the area, while in the southern section lies a grand theater.
Macao Tower AJ Hackett Bungee Jump
The Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world’s 10th highest tower, with a variety of activities, such as eating and entertainment. One of the activities which enjoy good fame is the bungee jump. The AJ Hackett Macao Tower Bungee Jump is 233 meters high, making it a Guinness World Record as the highest commercial (商业的) bungee jump in the world. Raise your arms and off you go!
Harbin’s Frozen World
For those who have never been to Harbin, there is an almost endless list of things to do. At Harbin Ice—Snow World, you can not only see the world—famous ice architecture, but also have great fun! You can have hotpot at the restaurants which are made of ice, enjoying the product of both ice and fire, go down the world’s longest ice slide (滑梯) and join in the popular Ice and Snow Electronic Music Festival to welcome 2024.
The winter is cold and the night is long, so why not go to the theatre? Harbin was listed by the United Nations as a “music city” in 2010. Harbin Grand Theater is where artistic souls defrost (化霜) a little to share their love of art.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to do extreme sports?| A．Shanghai Expo Culture Park. | B．The Macao Tower. |
| C．Shangha’s Yuyuan Garden. | D．Harbin Ice—Snow World. |
| A．Attend a famous music festival. | B．Play with both ice and fire. |
| C．Turn water into instant ice. | D．Learn to make ice architecture. |
| A．They have a high tower. | B．They have a long ice slide. |
| C．They have a grand theater. | D．They have traditional architecture. |
1. Which is the last continent that Amanda wants to go?
| A．Asia. | B．Europe. | C．South America. |
| A．Because she wanted to improve her English. |
| B．Because her boyfriend was there. |
| C．Because she had a job there. |
4 . A BUTTERFLY-SHAPED island in the central Aegean hopes to become Greece's first carbon-free tourist destination. Under a deal with the government, Volkswagen, a carmaker, has donated several new electric vehicles for use by Astypalea's public services; it will sell others at cost price lo its 1,200 residents. In return, the government has offered some money for islanders to buy electric cars and will build a hybrid solar and wind-fueled power plant to replace a group of polluting diesel-fired generators (柴油发电机).
Unlike other nearby islands, Astypalea is not connected to Greece's electricity grid. With only 3,000 rooms for visitors in small hotels or flats, tourism is still low-key. Many residents make a living in the old-fashioned ways: raising goats, keeping bees and fishing. The island was selected for Volkswagen's e-mobility experiment after Nikos Komineas, the go-ahead mayor, contacted the transport ministry for help in finding an electric bus to try out on its rugged roads.
Most islanders sound keen on the project. Mr Komineas expects the number of private cars on Astypalea to fall by a third over the next five years. Its residents, he says, will get around on e-scooters and electric minibuses, which will be free, linked to a mobile-phone app and available all day.
Some observers find the plan a little impractical. A plan for a solar park that would generate half the island's electricity within three years will not get under way before the tourist season ends. A single wind turbine (涡轮机) will be installed only in 2026, assuming the licensing process goes smoothly. That is not normally the case in the Aegean, where islanders worry that tourists will go elsewhere if the view is spoiled by a turbine 200 meters high. And even then, the hybrid power unit is planned to cover only about 80%of summer demand. But it is a start.
1. Why did Volkswagen donate some new electric vehicles for use by Astypalea's public services?| A．The carmaker wanted to promote its sales volume in this butterfly-shaped island. |
| B．The government would pay for the vehicles to reduce the pollution caused by transport. |
| C．It was part of the plan to make the island the first carbon-free tourist destination in Greece. |
| D．The islanders wanted to replace some polluting diesel-fired generators. |
| A．Many residents in the island still lead a traditional life. |
| B．The tourism in the island is its main source of economic benefit. |
| C．The island can only provide about 3, 000 rooms for visitors. |
| D．The island was chosen to perform the e-mobility experiment. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Positive. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．An island in Greece wants to boost tourism without using electricity. |
| B．Greece aims to become the first carbon-free country in the world. |
| C．A carmaker—Volkswagen donates electric cars to an island to boost the local tourism. |
| D．An island plans to be the first carbon-free tourist destination in its country. |
