5 . Four best day trips from Amsterdam: the ultimate travel guide

Zaanse Schans: a picture-perfect town of windmills

A trip to the Netherlands would be incomplete without seeing windmills-and there’s no better way to see them than in the historical town of Zaanse Schans. This quaint village gives visitors an accurate impression of Dutch living in the 17th and 18th centuries. From cheese and dairy factories to traditional windmills and historical museums, you’ll live, breathe, and experience the old Zaan style of living. Classic!

Travel time by car: 21 minutes

Transport fees: €4 for adults, €1.5 for children

Marken: a former island in the Zuiderzee

Residents of the town built wooden houses on artificial hills to prevent more flooding damage. To this day, these picturesque homes remain a popular cultural attraction. On your walk, you can visit the cosy town harbour or enjoy the scenic route of fields, forests, and the lakeshore.

Travel time by car: 27minutes

Transport fees: €4.5 for adults, €1.5 for children

Dordrecht: a historic trading port

Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland (we mean the old province of Holland and not the so-called “country”!). There are plenty of cultural spots, including seven churches and several historical monuments-turned-museums.

Travel time by car; l hour and 5 minutes

Transport fees: €9.5 for adults, €2 for children (2-6 years old)

Schiedam; home to the world’s tallest windmill

While there are windmills all around the Netherlands,Schiedam has the tallest traditional windmills of all, standing at 26.6 metres. Schiedam is also known for being the Netherlands’ gin (杜松子酒) capital, with the city producing the most jenever (also known as Dutch gin) in the country. There are multiple bars museums where you can check out the production process.

Travel time by car: 55 minutes

Transport fees: €9 for adults, €3 for children

1. How much should a couple pay for a trip at least?

A．€3.

B．€8.

C．€9.

D．€9.5.

2. Which trip leads to the oldest city in Holland?

A．Zaanse Schans.	B．Marken.
C．Schiedam.	D．Dordrecht.

3. What do Zaanse Schans and Schiedam have in common?

A．They’re both islands.

B．They both produce Dutch gin.

C．They’re both featured in windmills.

D．They’re famous for wooden houses.

6 . Everyone can experience loneliness from time to time, which causes concern about our health and well-being.     1    ? There are some possible courses of action, depending on who you are and where you live. Below are some suggestions on how to fight loneliness.

    2    

Some of us are lonely because we don’t have close relationships in our lives. But if that’s not the case for you, by all means let your friends or family know how you’re feeling and ask for support. Calling or texting can be an active way to shift your mood and help relieve loneliness.

Adopt a pet

There are many reasons to have pets.     3    . And these are especially helpful for people who may be isolated from other humans and feel lonely. One study finds that people who walk dogs are considered friendlier — something that's bound to help you connect if you’re looking to meet new people.

Try loving-kindness meditation (冥想)

Not everyone likes to engage in loving-kindness meditation. But it has been found to reduce loneliness, perhaps because it helps you to accept negative emotions more easily.     4    . Even when they are not around, loving-kindness meditation could help fight feelings of loneliness.

Count your blessings

    5    , its also possible to practice gratitude on your own and feel less lonely. In one study, older adults who were assigned a daily gratitude journaling exercise felt less lonely over time — and felt healthier, too.

A．Reach out to friends or family

B．Be kind to the relatives around you

C．What can you do when you feel lonely

D．Even though this practice can help you feel much happier

E．It can also help you increase a sense of connection to others

F．While expressing gratitude toward others can fight loneliness directly

G．One of them is that they can provide companionship and unconditional love

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is Beck Alter?

A．An art teacher.

B．A student leader.

C．The owner of Penny.

2. When will Penny be tested?

A．When she is 30 days old.

B．When she is 49 days old.

C．When she is 79 days old.

3. In which classes will the students write diaries for Penny's website?

A．English and art.

B．English and geography.

C．Speech and communication.

4. What will the students in life skills class do for Penny?

A．Take care of Penny.

B．Train Penny's personality.

C．Help run the Internet page.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where are the speakers?

A．In a hotel room.

B．Just outside a hotel.

C．At a hotel reception.

2. What might have happened according to the woman?

A．Someone locked the door from inside.

B．The man forgot where he put his wallet.

C．An animal came into the room through the window.

3. Where is the man's wallet likely to be now?

A．By the tree.

B．In the drawer.

C．In the fruit bowl.