1 . When it comes to travel, sometimes wandering is one of the most exciting things you can do. In a time when travellers are both more adventurous and eco-conscious than ever, it’s no surprise that there’s a wealth of new vocabulary to describe how we travel, when we travel and how the experience makes us feel. Here are eight of our favourite travel words that you may not have heard before.

We’ve kicked off a blog with the staycation, “a holiday in one’s own country”. The term first became popular in the mid-2000s, when the global financial crisis meant people had less income to spend on flash holidays and instead searched for cheaper local choices. Since 2020, the staycation is experiencing a revival (复兴). Benefits of staycations include cheaper travel costs, no spending hours in the airport and, of course, no need to worry about whether your passport expired (过期) last year.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to meet new people on your travels, you could stay at a hostel or with a host on Airbnb. Now, you can couch surf. And not just in “the staying at various friends’ houses until you find a new place to rent” sense: couch surfing is quickly becoming a hot new travel trend. Travellers can now choose to couch surf all across the world via a website which treats travel as a cultural exchange, allowing people to connect with willing hosts and crash on their sofas.

Given that single-use and climate strike were selected as the Collins 2018 and 2019 Words of the Year respectively, it’s clear that the climate crisis is very much on everybody’s mind. This desire to make more sustainable choices is also affecting the way we spend our vacation days. Ecotourism is another popular travel trend, defined as tourism that is designed to contribute to the protection of the environment. Examples of ecotourism include ditching short-haul flights, staying at eco-friendly resorts, or booking a staycation.

1. When did the staycation become popular firstly?

A．About in 2018.

B．About in 2019.

C．About in 2005.

D．About in 2010.

2. How many new travel words are mentioned in the text?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Six.

3. What does the text mainly focus on?

A．The eco-friendly travel ways.	B．The cheap ways to get around.
C．The changing words of travel.	D．The spread of history and culture.

4. What is probably continued with the text?

A．The other new travel words.	B．Ways to protect environment.
C．Other examples of ecotourism.	D．Experiences of reaching culture.

2 . How to Apply China Visa (签证)

How to apply China visa is the most concerned question for international tourists who plan to travel to China. Here you will find the useful information about China visa requirements and instructions.

China Visa Requirements

▶The valid (有效的) passport

Original passport valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages, and a photocopy of data page (with your photo on it)

▶China visa application form and photo

The applicants must fill in a complete visa application form and attach it with a recent-taken colour passport photo.

So what is the requirement of the photo? The photo you submit must be passport-type (bare-head, full face) and standard with the correct dimension and background colour.

▶Effective proof of legal stay or resident status (it applies to those who do not apply for China visa in their countries of citizenship).

Supporting Application Documents

For C-Visa, a letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant authority from China side shall be provided.

For D-Visa, the original and a photocopy of foreign permanent residence identification form issued by China’s Ministry of Public Security shall be provided.

For F-Visa, an invitation letter issued by relevant authorities or individuals from China side shall be provided.

For G-Visa, an onward air (train, bus, ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the third country or region shall be provided.

For L-Visa, the tour itinerary (行程) and documents with round trip flight tickets and accommodation reservations, or an invitation letter issued by relevant authorities or individuals from Chinese side shall be provided.

For M-Visa, documents of business activity, trade fair invitation letter or other invitation letter issued by trade partners in China shall be provided.

Further reading: click the link China visa knowledge and types.

1. In what situation do people have to prove the legal stay for the application?

A．Not being in his country of nationality.

B．Without documents of business activity.

C．Without photos that match the requirements.

D．Not being invited by trade partners in China.

2. Which visas need the trip ticket?

A．C-Visa and M-Visa.	B．L-Visa and D-Visa.
C．G-Visa and L-Visa.	D．F-Visa and M-Visa.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A science magazine.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A hotel poster.	D．A web page.

3 . Seagulls are flying overhead. Not far away, a boat is making a big noise. The sounds of people talking and laughing are everywhere. The smell of popcorn is carried on the fresh and pleasant wind blowing off the lake. Duluth is a city full of sights, smells, and sounds. My family visits it often, but each time it is a new adventure.

Duluth, Minnesota, was founded in 1870. Located at the southeast corner of the St. Louis County, on Lake Superior, Duluth is the third largest city in Minnesota, with a population of 86, 918. It was named after Daniel Sieur Du Lhut, a French explorer.

Native American settlements were first found in the area by French explorers in the late 1600s. Soon after, Duluth became an important trade and shipping center for the timber (木材) industry. In 1865, iron was discovered, making Duluth a major ore (矿石) shipping point. When the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, it became one of the Great Lakes’ leading ports for exporting grain.

Tourism is very important to Duluth. People are attracted to its natural scenery, as well as the museums, zoos, and of course, the many gift shops downtown. Duluth is the home of the Great Lakes Aquarium, which is the only all­freshwater aquarium in the United States. However, the Aerial Lift Bridge is the thing that most people want to see when they visit. Standing nearly 400 feet tall, it is a spectacular feat (功绩) of engineering. The Lake Superior Maritime Museum, where you’ll find more about ore boats, the lift bridge, and other things, is just a short walk away from the bridge. If you visit Duluth in the winter, you can go to Spirit Mountain to ski or snowboard.

From bridges to museums, zoos to shops, Duluth has it all. No matter what your interests are, Duluth has something for everyone.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By giving examples.

B．By giving a summary.

C．By giving a description.

D．By making comparisons.

2. Who was Daniel Sieur Du Lhut?

A．The leader of Native Americans.

B．The founder of Duluth, Minnesota.

C．The person who gave a name to Duluth.

D．One of the first French explorers to Duluth.

3. Why do most people go to see the Aerial Lift Bridge?

A．It is near a famous museum.

B．It is a masterpiece of engineering.

C．People can overlook Duluth on it.

D．It is the highest building in Duluth.

4. The text is likely to appear in         .

A．a news report	B．a tourist guide
C．a history paper	D．an art show review

4 . Pat Patterson, a pilot for 25 years, had never met anyone like the handsome young man in the wheelchair who faced him at the Medford, Oregon, airport on July 28, 1976. Mike Henderson, a quadriplegic (四肢瘫痪者), wanted flying lessons.

As a 22­-year-­old Coast Guardsman eight years before, Henderson had fallen off a dock and landed on a floating log, breaking two of his bones. Doctors said that he would probably never walk again, let alone fly. “Here was this doctor telling me how it was going to be,” he says, “but no one was going to limit my freedom to try.”

Henderson parked his wheelchair next to the airplane and began to climb up onto the wing. He injured his elbow on the way, and after a great struggle, finally managed to pull himself into the airplane’s pilot’s seat. In the flight office, Pat Patterson watched in disbelief. “He crawled his way up that wing!” he says. “It took him 45 minutes. When I went out, he was sitting in the pilot’s seat, bleeding from his injured elbow all over the place. When I saw him go through that much pain, I knew nothing could stop him.”

Now everything was up to the instructor and the student, and together they set about solving each problem as it arose. A small piece of carpet gave Henderson traction (摩擦力) to climb the slippery wing. A headset freed his hands from the radio microphone, and the two men developed a moving bar that enabled Henderson to operate the airplane more easily.

Three weeks and eight flying hours after the first lesson, Henderson and Patterson happily phoned Dr. Stoddard — Henderson’s physician. At the airport, as the physician looked on, Henderson quickly wheeled himself around the airplane, doing a thorough, professional ground check. With Patterson and Dr. Stoddard on board, he went through his preflight instrument check. Minutes later, engine starting, the plane rolled down the runway and took off into the gray sky.

1. When did Mike Henderson become disabled?

A．At the age of 25.	B．In 1968.
C．At the age of 30.	D．In 1976.

2. What did Pat Patterson think of Mike Henderson when they met first?

A．Depressed.	B．Experienced.
C．Determined.	D．Delighted.

3. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．How Patterson and Henderson overcame the difficulties together.

B．How Patterson helped Henderson overcome the difficulties.

C．How Patterson taught Henderson to fly with difficulty.

D．The difficulties Henderson faced before flying.

4. What do we know from the text?

A．Patterson didn’t want to teach Henderson at first.

B．Henderson finally succeeded in flying alone.

C．Patterson was very strict with Henderson.

D．Henderson went through a lot of difficulties.

5 . 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。

Art is a way to beautify lifeless urban spaces. We’ve seen examples of street artists working to improve urban scenery — by using new     1     (equip), or creating fantastic wall paintings.

But these are only the beginning. For Italian artist Peeta, blank walls are more than a flat surface; they can be transformed     2     mind-blowing three-dimensional artworks that invite us to step in different urban spaces.

Born in Venice, Peeta got his start as     3     graffiti writer after being “excited” by wall paintings spotted on his trip to Barcelona. Peeta set to work studying art and product design at university, as well as involving     4     (he) in different street art activities. Since then, Peeta — a name coming from his childhood nickname —    5     (develop) his characteristic style of three-dimensional lettering.

Part of     6     makes his works so breathtaking is that they integrate with the urban environment     7     (harmonious) and at the same time create an extraordinary experience. When     8     (see) from a particular angle, Peeta’s large artworks often achieve the impossible, with walls and windows seeming to disappear. “Art in public spaces creates an     9     (include) and enjoyable environment for the citizens there every day,” says Peeta. “My attempt is to make public spaces not just somewhere pleasant and lovely     10     somewhere inspirational and able to excite people’s feelings and imagination.”

6 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. How long will the course run this year?

A．Eight weeks.

B．Six weeks.

C．Seven weeks.

2. What was the woman surprised at?

A．The lack of assistants.

B．The condition of weather.

C．The number of children.

3. What new activities can the children have this year?

A．Fun programs.

B．Adventure sports.

C．Creative classes.

4. What is expected about the course this year?

A．It will last longer.

B．It will run better.

C．It will start earlier.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What difficulty did the speaker have when starting to learn French?

A．Grammar.

B．Pronunciation.

C．Vocabulary.

2. Why did the speaker go to France?

A．To settle there.

B．To look for a job.

C．To continue to study.

3. What did the speaker think of her French after she arrived in France?

A．Poor.

B．Excellent.

C．Acceptable.

4. What is the most important in learning a language according to the speaker?

A．Mastering the grammar rules.

B．Knowing a large number of words.

C．Using the language in real life.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What language did the speaker learn from the teacher?

A．French.

B．German.

C．English.

2. What did the speaker’s coursebook look like?

A．It was very modern.

B．It had a red back cover.

C．It was full of pictures.

3. How does the speaker feel about having classes?

A．Bored.

B．Tired.

C．Pleased.

4. What do we know about the speaker?

A．She knew a lot of French.

B．She had some lessons at home.

C．She has a talent for learning languages.

9 . Bella, a 14-year-old cat from Huntingdon, UK, has claimed the Guinness Record for the world’s loudest purr (猫叫声) by a domestic cat, with a noisy purr______at 54.59 decibels (分贝).

The Spink family has had Bella for almost 15 years, and they’ve always______that she might have the world’s loudest purr. Friends and family would always ______her loud purring, and Nicole Spink’s late husband would ______that she was louder than the TV.

One day, they decided to put Bella’s purring to the test―they ______a smartphone app to measure the cat’s purr and were blown away by the______. She was louder than the Guinness World record for the loudest purr by a domestic cat, so they applied for an official record______.

Measuring sound with a smartphone app and having it measured by a sound engineer can bring about totally______ results, but in this case, the Spinks were lucky to have their measurements______. After feasting on a bowl of her favorite food, Bella got to enjoy some much-needed petting by her owner and she produced some ______loud purring.

The standardized class-1 sound meter recorded Bella’s ______pur at 54.59 decibels. That was more than enough to beat the 50-decibel requirement to______the Guinness Record.

It’s important to note that while Bella has ______the record for the loudest purr by a living domestic cat, she doesn’t have the loudest purr in history. That ______belongs to the late Smokey and Merlin, two cats who purred at the ______noise level of 67.8 dB, a full 13.21 louder than Bella.

1.

A．produced

B．measured

C．supplied

D．analyzed

2.

A．respected

B．preferred

C．recommended

D．supposed

3.

A．account for

B．wonder at

C．agree with

D．work out

4.

A．celebrate

B．promote

C．debate

D．complain

5.

A．downloaded

B．invented

C．restored

D．contrasted

6.

A．benefit

B．pressure

C．result

D．purpose

7.

A．attempt

B．donation

C．performance

D．system

8.

A．useless

B．available

C．different

D．possible

9.

A．confirmed

B．formed

C．improved

D．destroyed

10.

A．specifically

B．slightly

C．gracefully

D．impressively

11.

A．normal

B．straight

C．peak

D．major

12.

A．regard

B．switch

C．beg

D．claim

13.

A．set

B．carved

C．sought

D．mixed

14.

A．option

B．trend

C．object

D．title

15.

A．professional

B．meaningful

C．astonishing

D．demanding

10 . 2023年即将过去，你们班准备举行庆新年演讲比赛，要求同学们介绍自己学习或生活中的变化。请你以“A New Me.”为题写一篇演讲稿，向大家展示自己的变化。
要求：
1. 自己的变化是什么?
2. 变化是如何产生的?
3. 变化对自己产生的影响。

A New Me

Hello, everyone!
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Thank you for your listening.