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 . The ability to walk is the sort of thing many people take for granted, but for Ella Weiske, it’s a monumental achievement. Ella was born with cerebral palsy (脑瘫) and requires a wheelchair to get around, yet she always dreamed of walking across the stage to collect her high school diploma on her own two feet.

In spring of 2023, Ella finally got that chance! The teenager spent months before her graduation from Ripon High School in Wisconsin building strength and practicing walking on an innovative new device called a Trexo. All of her efforts were worth it when she stepped onto the stage to a standing ovation (起立鼓掌) from teachers and students.

Walking on graduation day was important to Ella so her family raised $45,000 with an online fundraiser to buy the Trexo device, which is a wearable robot designed to help children walk. The device is controlled by a tablet, and it helps Ella gently move her legs. She can adjust how much support is needed, walk angles, and speed.

Ella says just the feeling of her feet hitting the floor makes her happy, but it’s the independence the device offers that gets her really excited. She dreams of hanging around downtown, going to her brother’s baseball games, and opening up her world with help from her robotic legs. But first, graduation!

On the big day, Ella was able to use her Trexo device to walk across the stage with the other members of the class of 2023. The entire school body was on their feet, cheering for her, as she collected her diploma with help from her sister, Liz Weiske. It was an emotional moment for the teachers and students who have rooted for Ella for the past 4 years.

Just graduating is an achievement on its own, but Ella’s life-changing walk meant so much to her, and to everyone who knows and loves her. We’re so proud of Ella for working hard to accomplish her goals.

1. What words can best describe Ella Weiske?

A．Caring and responsible.	B．Honest and reliable.
C．Ambitious and hardworking.	D．Intelligent and creative.

2. What did Ella gain from the help of the Trexo device?

A．A responsibility to help others.	B．A sense of living independently.
C．An ability to deliver a public speech.	D．An opportunity for further education.

3. How did the school staff feel about Ella’s walking on the stage?

A．Embarrassing.

B．Doubtful.

C．Inspiring.

D．Romantic.

4. What lesson can we learn from Ella’s experience?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．Many hands make light work.
C．Misfortune may be an actual blessing.	D．Everything is possible to a willing mind.

3 . A 17-year-old boy nicknamed Tao Tao with cerebral palsy(脑瘫) has made positive attempts to achieve greater self-reliance through selling self-made popcorn on the street on his own, touching the hearts of netizens and winning him an education opportunity.

According to Tao Tao’s mother: Yao Chuanhua, her son was born with the disabling condition. Over the years, she has continuously tried to train him to adapt and live as normally as possible.

As Tao Tao grew up, the idea of fostering his independence by selling homemade popcorn has brewed in the mother’s mind. She taught Tao Tao how to make popcorn at home and helped set up a stall in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou city of East China’s Zhejiang province.

“Tao Tao, don’t worry. Take it easy even if no one comes to buy,” after a few words of encouragement, Yao stepped aside and let his son take charge.

Initially reserved and unaccustomed to street vending, Tao Tao struggled to attract buyers. To boost his confidence, the mother even paid some passers-by to buy popcorn from her son’s stall.

Gradually, despite shyness and physical difficulties, Tao Tao has become more active and confident, managing the business smoothly without relying on a megaphone to peddle the product.

“The moment you stood here, you were already a success,” Being proud of Tao Tao’s progress, Yao shared videos of her son’s popcorn selling story online, receiving immense care and support from netizens.

Some traveled specifically to buy popcorn from Tao Tao, and one viewer even ordered thousands of buckets. Many expressed a desire to donate, but Yao declined any form of donations.

“My goal is to encourage him to make a brave step forward and connect with the outside world. I hope that one day he could live independently through his own efforts.”

“Tao Tao is a persevering child. He insists on making and packaging the popcorn all by himself, trying his best his best to prove that he can make it,” Yao added.

The online video sensation has drawn the attention of the local education authority to Tao Tao’s situation. After learning that the teen failed to receive proper school education due to health conditions, they have arranged for local special education teachers to offer him door-to-door teaching.

1. What can we learn about Tao Tao from Paragraph 1?

A．He is a student who likes studying.

B．He suffered from cerebral palsy at 17.

C．He made a lot of money by selling popcorn.

D．He is a boy with a positive attitude towards life.

2. Why did Tao Tao’s mother let Tao Tao take charge?

A．To boost his confidence.	B．To gain people’s sympathy.
C．To foster his independence.	D．To improve his popcorn-making skills.

3. What is Tao Tao’s mother’s purpose in sharing the videos?

A．To get the support from netizens.

B．To get him to sell more popcorn on his own.

C．To draw the attention of the local education authority.

D．To encourage him to boldly connect with the outside world.

4. What makes Tao Tao make continuous progress?

A．His spirit of perseverance.	B．The donations he accepted.
C．The help given by netizens.	D．The good education he received.

4 . You already know that playing sports helps keep you fit. But you might not know why it’s so important to get a sports physical at the beginning of your sports season.

    1     Most require students have a sports physical before they can play school sports. But even if a sports physical isn’t required, doctors still recommend getting one if you are active in any sports.

A sports physical can help find out and deal with health problems that might affect your sports performance or increase the chance of getting hurt. For example, if you have frequent asthma (哮喘) attacks, the doctor can change your medicines.     2     Your doctor may offer training tips or recommend exercises or physical therapy (疗法) to help you avoid injuries.

Most teens go to their regular doctor’s office to get a sports physical, since your doctor knows you and your health history best. Some get their sports physical at school.     3     Each one is armed with a medical professional who does a specific part of the physical exam.

Plan your sports physical at least 6 weeks before your sports season starts.     4     Neither you nor your doctor will be very happy if your sports physical is the day before baseball practice starts and it turns out there’s something that needs to be taken care of before you can suit up.

Sports physicals are usually good for 1 year, though you probably will have to complete a sports form each season. If there are any changes in your health history, like a new injury or you notice new symptoms (症状), you may need to see the doctor before being allowed to play.     5    .

A．That way, you can breathe more easily when you run.

B．Let your gym teacher or coach know if your health has changed.

C．During school physicals, you may go to “stations” set up in the gym.

D．The medical history questions are usually on a form that you can bring home.

E．Mention you need a sports physical so your doctor can set aside time to do both.

F．The sports history and exam help to tell if it’s safe for you to take part in your sport.

G．If your doctor finds a problem, this should leave enough time to for tests or treatment.

5 . 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.

6 . Health is wealth.     1     Here are some ways to prevent diseases and take care of yourself so you can live your healthiest, best life.

    2    

A study published in 2019 concluded that consumption of more than 4 servings of extra-processed food was associated with a 62% increased danger for all-cause deaths. For each additional serving, all-cause deaths increased to 18%. These foods can cause chronic inflammation (慢性炎症), a normal bodily process that can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.

Get your cholesterol (胆固醇) checked.

When checking your cholesterol, your test results will show your cholesterol levels in milligrams per decilitre. It’s crucial to get your cholesterol checked because your doctor will be able to advise you on how to maintain healthy levels.     3    

Watch your blood pressure.

    4     Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. Even small weight loss can help manage or prevent high blood pressure in many overweight people.

Get up and get moving.

Throw away any common misconceptions about exercising like that it has to be in a gym or a structured environment.     5     Taking 10, 000 steps a day is a popular goal because research has shown that when combined with other healthy behaviors, it can lead to a decrease in chronic illness like diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Exercise does not need to be done in consecutive (连续的) minutes. You can walk for 30 to 60 minutes once a day or you can do activities two to three times a day in 10 to 20 minute increments.

A．Watch your body mass.

B．Make healthy food choices.

C．Frequency, intensity and time are what matter most.

D．Sleep restores us and has a huge effect on how we feel.

E．In turn it lowers your chances of getting heart disease and stroke.

F．Normal blood pressure is defined as blood pressure <120/80 mmHg.

G．This common saying holds a lot of weight because it has truth behind it.

7 . Millions of tourists travel to parks each year to enjoy the bright colors of fall—but ecologists say the familiar reds, oranges and yellows of fall foliage (叶子) are coming later in the season. “In New England, generally the fall foliage tends to peak in mid-October,” said Richard Primack, a professor of plant ecology. “But because of a warming climate, the peak of fall foliage is tending to move from kind of early to middle October to kind of middle to late October.”

Predicting precisely when the leaves will turn from green to red, orange and yellow in fall depends in part on the geographic area, the species and the amount of rainfall, and climate change can largely determine the timing. And leaves of trees with harmful insects will drop sooner, according to Christy Rollinson, a forest ecologist. “Bright colors are associated with a healthy tree, because some colors take energy for the tree to produce.”

Peak color used to last for about two weeks, but for certain species, that period might be becoming more condensed as higher temperatures continue late into the fall because the rate at which days get shorter throughout the season remains the same. So future generations might just have to be ready to travel at a moment’s notice to catch a peak period in parts of the country.

Such changes could affect the tourism industry surrounding leaf peeping (看), according to Sarah Blount, a researcher at the National Environmental Education Foundation. She underscored how important it is to try to improve peak timing predictions. “There’s so much money attached to it,” she said. “People want to buy a plane ticket to go somewhere and don’t want to find that it turns out that it’s too late and all the leaves are gone or it’s too early, so there is a lot of focus on trying to improve the information that we have about that. ”

1. What do Richard’s words show?

A．The lateness of peak fall foliage.	B．The rareness of a trend.
C．The impacts of climate change.	D．The mass appeal of fall colors.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．Visible signs of the coming of fall.	B．The timing of colorful fall foliage.
C．Factors in fall foliage’s changing colors.	D．Determinants of the brightness of colors.

3. Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “condensed” in paragraph 3?

A．Irregular.

B．Important.

C．Lengthy.

D．Brief.

4. What does Sarah Blount imply?

A．The country relies heavily on tourism.	B．Predicting peak foliage precisely is vital.
C．It takes effort to protect the environment.	D．Scheduling leaf-peeping trips early is better.

8 . If you live in a region where winter weather is a regular risk, you are likely used to pouring salt on your sidewalks. But how does it work? And how much salt do humans pour onto our planet’s surface? The second question is easier to answer: a lot.

Salt doesn’t directly melt ice, nor does it make snow simply disappear. Instead it makes water less likely to freeze in a phenomenon called freezing point depression. In the case of simple rock salt, which is a rawer, less pure version of table salt, each molecule (分子) splits into smaller elements. Normally, when water freezes into ice, its molecules line up to form a stable, orderly structure. Salt interrupts the process, however, and temperatures must drop lower to overcome that interruption and for freezing to occur.

But if salt needs to interact with liquid water, how does it do anything when temperatures are stubbornly below freezing, and water should already be in the form of ice? That’s where cars help clear their own way by creating friction and, in turn, heat. The friction allows for the ice that has already frozen to melt a little bit, making it unlikely to freeze.

Beyond rock salt’s ability to clear icy streets, it can also be destructive. Chloride ions (氯离子) can cause wear and tear on vehicles and facilities. Increasing chloride densities in North American lakes could begin to upset local ecology and degrade sources of drinking water.

Many local governments are looking for alternatives to rock salt. Other salts such as magnesium chloride and calcium chloride work in the same way as rock salt, and they’re perhaps even more efficient. Some experiments are testing other ice-preventing solutions, including those that contain sugars instead of or in addition to salts. Another approach relies more heavily on sand, which can mechanically make roads safer. All of this experimentation is aimed at ensuring people can travel in any weather condition — a Herculean task when winter brings its worst.

1. What’s the purpose of the first sentence in Paragraph 2?

A．To introduce the topic.	B．To give some evidence.
C．To define the phenomenon.	D．To reveal the misconception.

2. How does salt work to disturb the process of freezing?

A．By lowering the temperature.	B．By melting and splitting itself.
C．By lining up to form a solid structure.	D．By stopping the formation of the structure.

3. What does the underlined word “densities” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Concentrations.

B．Weights.

C．Qualities.

D．Salts.

4. What’s the last paragraph mainly talking about?

A．Other salts won’t disturb local ecology.

B．Efforts are being made to guarantee safe travels.

C．Many alternatives are available to solve the problem.

D．Bitter winter make it impossible to secure road safety.

9 . Lake Titicaca is a freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia. It’s the largest lake in South America. Dotted along the lake’s western corner, you can find dozens of artificial islands. Several thatched (茅草的) houses and structures sit on each island, some of which are only 30 meters or so wide, although larger ones exist.

The floating platforms are built by piling layers upon layers of mixed totora roots and reeds (芦苇). The totora plant is necessary to life on the lake. Its strong root fibers are used to make houses, boats, roofs, mattresses, and more, as well as used to make tea, traditional medicine, and tasty dishes known as “lake banana”.

So the story goes, this unusual living arrangement came out in the pre-Columbian era when the ambitious Inc a Empire began invading (入侵) into the mainland villages of Uros. The Uros villages moved to Lake Titicaca where they built these floating platforms. If invading Inca came their way, the Uros could push these artificial islands out to the middle of the lake and flee their attack.

The threat of the Inca Empire has long passed, but the tradition remains strong. Even today, it’s estimated that around 1,300 Uros live on some 100 constructed islands on Lake Titicaca. Maintaining the lifestyle isn’t easy. While totora is a tough material, the thatched organic material degrades due to the forces of nature over time, meaning the islands and homes are in a constant state of repair.

However, the traditional way of life isn’t without its modern benefits. Many of the islands have solar panels that power lights, radios, and television satellites. The lake’s artificial islands have also become a must-see spectacle for tourists, with some locals even renting out their totora-thatched homes to travelers on online rental website Airbnb.

1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The value of the totora plant.	B．The process to build the islands.
C．The islands made of water plants.	D．The tradition and history of the Uros.

2. Why did the ancient Uros build artificial islands on the lake?

A．To live a nature-friendly life.	B．To preserve their old lifestyle.
C．To build thatched houses on them.	D．To protect themselves against enemies.

3. What do we know about the current life of the Uros?

A．They have lost their native language.

B．Modern devices have come into their life.

C．Tourism is their major source of income.

D．They’re tired of repairing the totora-thatched houses.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To persuade.

B．To educate.

C．To advertise.

D．To introduce.

10 . Paris is full of cultural significance. Yet, despite its wealth of cultural hotspots and architectural delights, some tourists who explore the City of Light experience “Paris syndrome (巴黎综合征), a psychological condition that often results in nausea (恶心) and increased heart rates. An interesting phenomenon is that Paris syndrome is “most common among Japanese tourists”. Why?

Many Japanese visitors go with a deeply romantic picture of Paris----the beauty of French women, the high culture and art. But when the reality of the modern city of Paris sets in, with its seemingly unfriendly service and confusing public transport, some tourists simply find their hope falling through.

“An encounter with a Parisian waiter who shouts at customers might be laughed off by those from other Western cultures. But for the Japanese —used to a society where politeness is valued and voices are rarely raised in anger-----the experience of their dream city turning into a nightmare (噩梦) can simply be too much,” said Rodanthi Tzanelli, a professor of cultural sociology.

So Paris syndrome should be regarded as an extreme form of culture shock, which is an illness resulting from the loss of meaning when people find themselves in a different symbolic reality, according to Rachel Irwin, a senior researcher. The symptoms (症状) associated with culture shock are similar to those experienced by someone who is feeling anxious. According to the analysis (分析) of Calm Clinic, a mental health resource platform, when someone is experiencing anxiety, signals that are related to the fight or flight response will be sent to the stomach. The signals change the way the body processes food, causing nausea.

Besides, Tzanelli points out that the syndrome is not specific to Paris and nobody can be free of culture shock as long as they go to new places. The syndrome is likely a “general phenomenon”, as younger generations tend to travel to different countries, and are likely to be more aware of what they’ll encounter at a destination. Therefore, they’re unlikely to be bitterly disappointed when they’re there.

1. Why do Japanese tourists experience great discomfort in Paris?

A．Paris lacks real historical and cultural hotspots.

B．Paris fails to meet their romantic expectations.

C．They find Paris’ public transport less modern.

D．They cannot adapt to the local climate.

2. What does Rodanthi Tzanelli aim to explain in paragraph 3?

A．How culture influences the behavior of tourists.

B．How Japanese tourists react to Paris syndrome.

C．Why Paris syndrome particularly strikes the Japanese.

D．Why the Japanese value politeness and avoid conflicts.

3. What does Calm Clinic’s analysis stress?

A．People’s inability to adapt to new cultures.

B．The methods of overcoming culture shock.

C．People’s varied attitudes to different cultures.

D．The physical discomfort caused by culture shock.

4. What will be the author’s advice on overcoming Paris syndrome?

A．To be prepared for new encounters in advance.

B．To focus on the positive aspects of a destination.

C．To visit new places together with young people.

D．To avoid going to unfamiliar destinations.