1 . Rome can be pricey for travelers, which is why many choose to stay in a hostel (旅社). The hostels in Rome offer a bed in a dorm room for around $25 a night, and for that, you’ll often get to stay in a central location (位置) with security and comfort.
Yellow HostelIf I had to make just one recommendation for where to stay in Rome, it would be Yellow Hostel. It’s one of the best-rated hostels in the city, and for good reason. It’s affordable, and it’s got a fun atmosphere without being too noisy. As an added bonus, it’s close to the main train station.
Hostel Alessandro PalaceIf you love social hostels, this is the best hostel for you in Rome. Hostel Alessandro Palace is fun. Staff members hold plenty of bar events for guests like free shots, bar crawls and karaoke. There’s also an area on the rooftop for hanging out with other travelers during the summer.
Youth Station HostelIf you’re looking for cleanliness and a modern hostel, look no further than Youth Station. It offers beautiful furnishings and beds. There are plenty of other benefits, too; it doesn’t charge city tax; it has both air conditioning and a heater for the rooms; it also has free Wi-Fi in every room.
Hotel and Hostel Des ArtistesHotel and Hostel Des Artistes is located just a 10-minute walk from the central city station and it’s close to all of the city’s main attractions. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing you with a map of the city when you arrive, and offering advice if you require some. However, you need to pay 2 euros a day for Wi-Fi.
1. What is probably the major concern of travelers who choose to stay in a hostel?| A．Comfort. | B．Security. |
| C．Price. | D．Location. |
| A．Yellow Hostel. | B．Hostel Alessandro Palace. |
| C．Youth Station Hostel. | D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes. |
| A．It gets noisy at night. | B．Its staff is too talkative. |
| C．It charges for Wi-Fi. | D．It’s inconveniently located. |
2 . The Biggest Stadiums in the World
People have been pouring into stadiums since the days of ancient Greece. In around 80 A.D., the Romans built the Colosseum, which remains the world’s best known stadium and continues to inform contemporary design. Rome’s Colosseum was 157 feet tall and had 80 entrances, seating 50,000 people. However, that was small fry compared with the city’s Circus Maximus, which accommodated around 250,000 people.
These days, safety regulations-not to mention the modern sports fan’s desire for a good view and comfortable seat — tend to keep stadium capacities (容量) slightly lower. Even soccer fans tend to have a seat each; gone are the days of thousands standing to watch the match.
For the biggest stadiums in the world, we have used data supplied by the World Atlas list so far, which ranks them by their stated permanent capacity, as well as updated information from official stadium websites.
All these stadiums are still functional, still open and still hosting the biggest events in world sport.
·Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang D.P.R. Korea. Capacity: 150,000. Opened: May 1,1989.
·Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U. S. Capacity: 107,601. Opened: October 1, 1927.
·Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania, U. S. Capacity: 106,572. Opened: September 17, 1960.
·Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, U. S. Capacity: 104,944. Opened: October 7,1922.
·Kyle Field, College Station, Texas, U. S. Capacity: 102,512. Opened: September 24, 1927.
1. How many people could the Circus Maximus hold?| A．104,944. | B．107,601. | C．About 150,000. | D．About 250,000. |
| A．Michigan Stadium. | B．Beaver Stadium. | C．Ohio Stadium. | D．Kyle Field. |
| A．They host big games. | B．They have become tourist attractions. |
| C．They were built by Americans. | D．They are favored by architects. |
3 . Last year, 138,000 San Francisco residents used Airbnb, a popular app designed to connect home renters and travelers. It’s a striking number for a city with a population of about 850,000, and it was enough for Airbnb to win a major victory in local elections, as San Francisco voters struck down a debatable rule that would have placed time restrictions and other regulations on short-term rental services.
The company fiercely opposed the measure, Proposition F, with a nearly $10 million advertising campaign. It also contacted its San Franciscan users with messages urging them to vote against Proposition F.
Most people think of Airbnb as a kind of couch-surfing app. The service works for one-night stays on road trips and longer stays in cities, and it often has more competitive pricing than hotels. It’s a textbook example of the “sharing economy”, but not everyone is a fan.
The app has had unintended consequences in San Francisco. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported last year, a significant amount of renting on Airbnb is not in line with the company’s image: middle-class families putting up a spare room to help make ends meet. Some users have taken advantage of the service, using it to turn their multiple properties into vacation rentals or even full-time rentals. Backers of Proposition F argued that this trend takes spaces off the conventional, better-regulated housing market and contributes to rising costs.
“The fact is, widespread abuse of short-term rentals is taking much needed housing off the market and harming our neighborhoods,” said ShareBetter SF, a group that supported Proposition F. Hotel unions have protested the company’s practices in San Francisco and other cities, saying that it creates an illegal hotel system.
San Francisco is in the middle of a long-term, deeply rooted housing crisis that has seen the cost of living explode. Actually, explode is a generous term. The average monthly rent for an apartment is around $4, 000. Located on a narrow outcropping of land overlooking the bay, San Francisco simply doesn’t have enough space to accommodate the massive inflow of young, high-salaried tech employees flocking to Silicon Valley.
As the Los Angeles Times reported, some San Francisco residents supported the measure simply because it seemed like a way to check a big corporation. Opponents of Proposition F countered that the housing crisis runs much deeper, and that passing the rule would have discouraged a popular service while doing little to solve the city’s existing problems.
1. The intention of Proposition F is to ________.| A．place time limits in local election. | B．set limits on short-term rental. |
| C．strike down a controversial rule. | D．urge users to vote against Airbnb. |
| A．It shrinks the living space of middle-class families. |
| B．Users are taken advantage of by the service financially. |
| C．It makes the house market more competitive. |
| D．It indirectly leads to high house rental price. |
| A．explosion of the living cost | B．its geographic characteristics |
| C．generosity of local enterprises | D．inflow of migrant population |
| A．objective | B．supportive |
| C．negative | D．indifferent |
4 . Libraries are the temple for book lovers, the main source of knowledge and wisdom. Here are the biggest libraries in the world.
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress in the US is the biggest library in the world, whose collections are from all around the world. The library has a collection of 32 million cataloged books. It receives 22,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the US. Some of the major works stored in the library are Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence, the world’s most famous architectural designs and so on.
The British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is the second biggest library in the world. It holds 150 million items from different countries. It receives 8,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its collection includes 14 million books. Every year over 3 million items are added to the library. The major highlights of the library collection are Diamond Sutra and Alice’s Adventures under Ground.
Library and Archives (档案馆) Canada (LAC)
Canada has the third biggest library in the world. The library holds 20 million books, 24 million photographs and a lot of digital works. Its collection includes The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act, the British North America Act and many more precious works.
The New York Public Library (NYPL)
It is the fourth largest library in the world. It is the public library having 87 branches. The library has a collection of 53 million items. It also has four research libraries which are open to the general public. You can ask and discover about anything on the official website of NYPL.
1. Which of the following works is stored in the Library of Congress?| A．The British North America Act. |
| B．Alice’s Adventures under Ground. |
| C．Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence. |
| D．The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act. |
| A．About 22,000. | B．More than 8,000. |
| C．About 14 million. | D．More than 3 million. |
| A．Library and Archives Canada. | B．The Library of Congress. |
| C．The New York Public Library. | D．The British Library. |
5 . Four Hotels That Will Make Your Life Easier
Marriott Detroit Airport
It’s such an ideal option for business travelers in a hurry. Here is the basic idea: You download the iPhone or Android app. The night before, you can “check-in” virtually. When you arrive you get a message that the room is ready and your key, which is already tied to your reservation, is waiting for you at the desk.
Yotel New York
The self-service kiosks (一体机) at this high-tech New York hotel are open 24x7 and work just like the ones you’d see at an airport. There are just five-steps to register and obtain your room card. There’s even a luggage robot. You tap in the number of bags you’re carrying, then wait for a robot arm to swing down and store your luggage in a locker.
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Business travelers like the fast kiosk check-in works. Like the Yotel, the kiosk asks you to put in your credit card. The whole process takes about three minutes. When travelers leave, they can be equally impressed with the fast check-out. You never have to wait in line.
Radisson LaCrosse
The Radisson is trying to make the kiosk process even faster, you use a mobile app to register and then receive a password by email or text. When you get to the kiosk, you can scan the password to get your key without any other steps required. It’s incredibly fast.
1. Which hotel has the self-service luggage locker?| A．Marriott Detroit Airport. | B．Yotel New York. |
| C．Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. | D．Radisson LaCrosse. |
| A．They provide key-free service. |
| B．They both have the fastest check-in process. |
| C．Travelers need to check in with a credit card. |
| D．Travelers can check in with their mobile phones. |
| A．To assess the service of the hotels. | B．To criticize the service of the hotels. |
| C．To recommend hotels with fast service. | D．To help customers check in and check out. |
6 . There are some palaces in Europe that you may be interested to know about.
Royal Palace of Madrid, SpainIt takes the title of the largest European palace by floor area and it is one of the largest palaces in the world. The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in the 18th century by order of Philip V on the site of the old Alcázar fortress, a former Moorish castle. With over 135,000 square metres and 3,418 rooms, it has seeded centuries of Spanish history. It is one of the few official seats of a head of state that is open to the public.
Royal Palace of Brussels, BelgiumIt is a historic and the most wonderful building in Brussels, Belgium, next to Brussels Park. The Royal Palace of Brussels is the King’s main workplace, where he works daily with his staff. A tradition has been established since 1965 to open the Royal Palace of Brussels to the public normally from the 21 July until the beginning of September.
Pena Palace, PortugalIt is the most popular attraction in Sintra, Portugal, and the main reason why so many people visit the small mountain town less than one hour’s drive from the country’s capital city, Lisbon. The colorful palace perched upon a hill looks like something out of a fairy tale. Its yellow and bright red appearance makes Pena Palace one of the most picturesque places in Europe. The UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site has a rich history that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.
Palace of Venaria, ItalyIt is a former royal living places and gardens located in Venaria Reale, near Turin in the Metropolitan City of Turin of the Piedmont region in northern Italy. It is one of the largest palaces in the world. It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
1. Which palace covers the largest floor area in Europe?| A．Royal Palace of Madrid. | B．Pena Palace. |
| C．Royal Palace of Brussels. | D．Palace of Venaria. |
| A．In February. | B．In June. | C．In August. | D．In October. |
| A．They are both in Asia. |
| B．They are both small palaces. |
| C．They are both forty minutes’ drive from the capital. |
| D．They are both listed in the UNESCO World Heritage. |
7 . Beyond its amazing landscapes, Banff National Park also boasts a rich cultural heritage. In this comprehensive guide, we will introduce you to a collection of museums of Banff, providing essential information to make your visit a truly immersive experience.
● Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Location: 111 Bear St, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Cost: $12 CAD ($10 USD) for adults, $10 CAD ($8 USD) for students, and free for children under 12 years old and are valid for 90 days from purchase.
The museum showcases the art, culture, and history of the Canadian Rockies region. It features a diverse collection of artworks, historical photographs, and artifacts that highlight the natural beauty and human stories of the area.
● Canada House Gallery
Location: 201 Bear St, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: Free
It is a well-known art gallery that showcases contemporary and traditional Canadian artwork. The gallery features a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artistic mediums created by Canadian artists. Visitors can explore the gallery and appreciate the talent and creativity of Canadian art.
● The Banff Park Museum
Location: 91 Banff Ave, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Cost: $4.90 CAD ($4 USD) for adults, $4.40 CAD ($3.50 USD) for adults 65and over, and free for youth under 17 years old.
The museum is a historic site featuring a collection of over 5,000 specimens (标本) of wildlife, including birds, mammals, insects, and plants. The museum building itself is a charming log cabin, dating back to 1903.
1. How much would a couple pay if they want to explore the Whyte Museum with a senior high student and an 8-year-old son?| A．$22 CAD. | B．$22 CAD. | C．$34 CAD. | D．$18 CAD. |
| A．At Canada House Gallery. | B．At the Whyte Museum. |
| C．At the Banff Park Museum. | D．At the Canadian Rockies region. |
| A．Travel. | B．Business. | C．Science. | D．Entertainment. |
8 . In today’s fast-paced world, comfort and relaxation are keys to a happy daily life. People want to have their tasks finished as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We all search for convenience.
Improved home security, safety, and privacy
Voice-assistant smart technology
Voice-assistant innovative technology helps users do a lot like turning on music, computers, TVs and other devices inside their homes!
You can also use Smart Home technology to help you with everyday household chores! You can stay in bed in your pyjamas while your AI vacuum cleaner does all the work for you!
Smart healthcare technology
| A．Smart home cleaning |
| B．Smart touchless technology |
| C．We all want our homes to look nice and bright |
| D．That’s why more and more people are interested in Smart Home |
| E．These are always the most important things for every homeowner |
| F．It also helps in making a cosy atmosphere by adjusting temperature and lighting |
| G．Smart devices allow fast communication with medical professionals over the internet |
9 . The best restaurants for outdoor dining in Greater Boston
Beehive Restaurant (541 Tremont St., Boston)
If you want to have fun while you enjoy your meal, head to Beehive, where you get specialized brunch, cocktails, and live music with your patio(露台) dining.
“Great food and service, fun atmosphere in and out.”
—Esta E., Back Bay
Brighton Bodega (328 Washington St., Brighton) and Devlin’s Bistro & Bar (332 Washington St., Brighton)
Although these are two separate eateries, they share a patio space in Brighton. Visit Brighton Bodega for its Asian-inspired small plates and Devlin’s for the drinks menu. While you’re there, you may get to experience some live jazz.
“These sister restaurants share a lovely patio area with a good atmosphere and excellent food! I love the constantly changing and always creative Brighton Bodega menu, and the steady favorites menu of Devlin’s.”
—Wendy, Cambridge
Chart House (60 Long Wharf, Boston)
Chart House has served hungry customers in the Boston area for more than 60 years and continues to do so with its patio dining experience and “perfect views”.
“It is not in a too-crowded area. It’s not amidst cars and too many passers-by, so you can hear the water and the silence once in a while. There is parking at the back so I can drive in, dine, and drive out.”
—Lissa W., Uxbridge
Frenchie Wine Bistro (560 Tremont St., Boston)
Outdoor dining is becoming more popular in Boston, but there’s something about it that feels very European. especially at this South End spot. Sit out on the patio for its modern French menu and wide selection of wines.
“It’s just the best. Great views, food and drink, and THE BEST people watching!”
—Chris H., Boston
1. What do Beehive Restaurant and Brighton Bodega have in common?| A．Both share one patio. | B．Both have great views. |
| C．Both provide live music. | D．Both are in the same street. |
| A．Chart House. | B．Devlin’s Bistro &Bar. |
| C．Beehive Restaurant. | D．Frenchie Wine Bistro. |
| A．It is in the south of America. |
| B．It has a European flavor. |
| C．It changes its menu frequently. |
| D．It allows customers to drive in. |
10 . Four of the Coolest Plant Shops in the State of California
Plants have given us comfort during the coronavirus pandemic, so it should come as no surprise that garden stores are more popular than ever. Here is a look at a few of our favorites.
All Time Plants
Location: 1322 Coronado Ave. Ste B, Long Beach, California 90804
All Time Plants is inside the coffee and bottle house. The storefront is now a hybrid coffee house-plant store-home store where visitors can shop for plants and home goods while enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or beer.
EnCactusar
Location: 3577 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park, California 90065
The COVID-19 pandemic gave artists Jackie and Julio the opportunity to turn their hobby into their own garden center, a small business at their Boyle Heights home. It is a kind of place where staff members will carry your plants out to your car for you while offering care tips. Open Saturdays and Sundays only.
Flyplant
Location: 1801 E 7th St, Los Angeles, California 90021
Flyplant was founded at the height of the pandemic, by Filipina with a passion for helping plant growing. Their shop offers customers plant and pot pairings, plant-themed costumes and gardening tools. Recently, they have added hands-on workshops, where guests can learn how to plant and care for their houseplants.
Folia Collective
Location: 5052 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, California 90041
Every plant at Folia Collective, from roses to ferns (蕨类植物), comes with a care card written by owner Danae Horst, a famous author in the field of home growing. Staff will ask you questions to help you pick the perfect plant and offer tips. Horst has houseplant gifts and, before the pandemic, hosted book signings and occasional cutting exchanges.
1. What can you do in All Time Plants?| A．Host book signings. | B．Drink some coffee or beer. |
| C．Attend classes to look after plants. | D．Borrow gardening tools. |
| A．All Time Plants. | B．EnCactusar. | C．Flyplant. | D．Folia Collective. |
| A．They were founded during the pandemic. | B．They are open on weekends. |
| C．They are from the same state. | D．They carry plants to your car. |
