1 . The Norman Bird Sanctuary (禁猎区) provides the perfect environment for a family gathering, a sweet wedding and other small events. With 300 acres of protected open space overlooking beautiful fields and the waterfront beyond, the Norman Bird Sanctuary offers all kinds of choices for your next event.
Mabel’s Studio
Located among the historic farm buildings in the Norman Bird Sanctuary, Mabel’s Studio offers a comfortable space for gatherings of up to 40 people. With its vaulted (拱形的) ceiling, wide floors and beautiful views overlooking stone walls, fields and ocean, this unique environment is ideal for a book signing, a lecture or a small social gathering.
Paradise Farmhouse
The Paradise Farmhouse is the perfect place to bring people together in a unique and private environment. Ideal for family vacations and wedding parties, this house is situated on a broad lawn (草坪) bordered by historic stone walls, with a fantastic view of fields and ocean. From short rests as a family to hosting a wedding of up to 125 people, our Paradise Farmhouse was designed to make new memories.
The Barn
Vaulted wooden ceilings create an attractive space for dancing, lectures, small receptions and educational events for up to 90 people. Accessible (可进入的) on both sides of the building, the Barn also has a small lawn providing additional space for a small tent or outdoor seating.
Mabel’s Garden
Mabel’s Garden is a gathering place for up to 80 people and serves as the best place for photographs. A formal garden with a stone birdbath is bordered by small trees, native plants and a path. Historic stone walls surround the garden, which is accessed by a small wooden gate and is located across from the Paradise Farmhouse.
1. Which place is suitable for a gathering of 110 people?| A．Mabel’s Studio. | B．Paradise Farmhouse. | C．Mabel’s Garden. | D．The Barn. |
| A．By walking across a large lawn. | B．By walking through a small wooden gate. |
| C．By walking through both sides of the Barn. | D．By walking through a historic farm building. |
| A．To recommend places for events. | B．To encourage people to protect birds. |
| C．To introduce famous travelling buildings. | D．To tell the history of Norman Bird Sanctuary. |
2 . The Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World
Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building
The wide-open entrance square on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo’s main train station would look more at home in Amsterdam or Paris. Kingo Tatsuno’s classical European design took over six years to complete, finally opening in 1914. The statin has received several facelifts since the Second World War, most recently in 2012. It’s one of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world.
Beijing West Railway Station
The idea of building this station in the capital of China was put forward as early as 1959 but didn’t come to reality until 1996. It was the largest station in Asia at the time, although Shanghai’s Hongqiao Station has since surpassed it. The station itself has a unique architectural (建筑的) style, with the main body of the building having quite a functional Russian look, but the rooftop is decorated with three amazing Chinese pagodas.
Duoliang Station, Taiwan
This is the smallest station on this lit by a distance. In fact we’re not really choosing Duoliang for architectural reasons. This station is all about location, location, location. Surrounded by hi top greenery on one side and amazing Pacific Ocean scenery on the other, it’s one of the most scenic spots in all of Taiwan. This isn’t even a working station anymore, but the platforms have been adapted into viewing spots, extremely popular with local train spotters.
Stazione Milano Centrale in Milan
Milan’s central train station looks pretty much exactly as you’d imagine it. There are a mix of styles at play here, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, but the entire building is filled with a classic sense of Roman monumentality. The outer look is guarded by two statues, while its insides are equally impressive, as grand stonewalls curve (弯曲) into the station’s glass ceilings.
1. What do Tokyo Station and Beijing West Railway Station have in common?| A．Both have European features. |
| B．Both were built in the early 1990s. |
| C．Both have been rebuilt several times. |
| D．Both are the largest domestic stations. |
| A．Its distance. | B．Its small size. |
| C．Its surrounding scenery. | D．Its architectural style. |
| A．Roman buildings | B．Its various styles. |
| C．Statues on the walls | D．The curving ceilings. |
3 . California is famous not only for its beautiful scenery but also for its great universities. Its state university system is the largest in the country. California has many worldclass public and private universities. The following universities are the best in California based on the Wall Street Journal US College Rankings 2018.
Stanford University
Stanford University, or Leland Stanford Junior University (its full name), is a private research university founded in 1891 by the railroad tycoon (铁路大亨) Leland Stanford and his wife Jane Stanford.
The university sits at the heart of Silicon Valley. The university’s role in creating the US technology industry has led to its name as one of the greatest higher education institutions in the world. Stanford is placed among the top universities in the world.
California Institute of Technology(Caltech)
Caltech is one of the world’s leading science and engineering higher education institutions. The private research and teaching university was founded in 1891 in Pasadena just northeast of Los Angeles.
Caltech has had a strong focus on science since the early 1900s and has turned out many great scientific minds. 72 of its teachers and graduates have won the Nobel Prize (by October 2018). Caltech is also famous for the quality of its teaching. It is ranked first in the USA for the number of graduates who goes on to study a PhD.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1880 and is one of the oldest private universities in California.
The university’s official mascot is Traveler, a white Andalusian horse. It first appeared at a football game in 1961 and was known as Traveler Ⅰ. The current horse is now known as Traveler Ⅶ.
1. What is the similarity between the universities above?| A．They are all private universities. |
| B．They are all located in Silicon Valley. |
| C．They were all founded in the late 1880s. |
| D．They are all leaders in science and engineering. |
| A．72 students from Caltech have won the Nobel Prize |
| B．the official mascot of Stanford University is Traveler |
| C．University of Southern California was founded by a railroad tycoon |
| D．Caltech has the highest number of graduates going on to study a PhD |
| A．the university system in California is small |
| B．Stanford University was named after its founders |
| C．Traveler first appeared at a basketball game in 1961 |
| D．Caltech is the oldest of the three |
4 . For even the most city citizens, a quick escape into nature is always a welcome breath of fresh air. Try looking for an urban garden nearby — they often hide themselves just around the corner. Click here to know more of the coolest gardens in cities around the world.
Sky Garden
As London’s highest public garden, this social space offers splendid 360-degree views of the city. With a restaurant, observation decks and beautiful plant life, there is something for everyone in this city-center escape from urban life.
The BeltLine
In a massive, 22-mile loop (环线) around the city, the BeltLine connects many Atlanta neighborhoods with parks, trails, restaurants and art shows. Although it is still under construction, the sections that are open to the public act as alternative space to enjoy the outdoors.
Jardins de Rubió i Lluch
This walled, shady garden is in the courtyard of the historic Hospital de la Santa Creu. Decorated with lilac and mandarin trees — and string lights in the evenings — this small garden square is the perfect place to sip a coffee away from Barcelona’s crowded atmosphere.
Dumbarton Oaks
The garden at this historic estate in Georgetown was listed as one of the 10 best gardens in the world by National Geographic in 2014. It has both a formal, carefully manicured (修剪整齐的) garden as well as a naturalistic garden — allowing visitors the ability to choose what they want to see.
1. Where is the passage taken from?| A．A magazine. | B．A website. | C．A newspaper. | D．A book. |
| A．Sky Garden. | B．The BeltLine. |
| C．Jardins de Rubió i Lluch. | D．Dumbarton Oaks. |
| A．They are all mixtures of entertainment and art. |
| B．They are all mixtures of urban and rural gardens. |
| C．They are all good places for people to get close to nature. |
| D．They are all quiet places for people to enjoy a relaxed dinner. |
5 . Yellowstone Poster Exhibition to Be on View at UW’s Coe Library
A first-of-its-kind exhibition that focuses on the history of Yellowstone National Park posters will be on display at the University of Wyoming’s Coe Library beginning Tuesday, February 1.
“Wonderland Illustrated” will present posters and poster-style illustrations of the park spanning from the 1870s through 2022. The exhibition will be located on Level 3 of Coe Library. It will be on view through Tuesday, May 31.
The exhibition takes place at the same time as this year’s 150th anniversary of the creation of Yellowstone National Park. The posters in the exhibition serve the purpose of both advertising and art.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Yellowstone collectors Jack and Susan Davís, and Larry and Thea Lancaster to bring this exhibition to the University of Wyoming as part of year-long celebrations recognizing Yellowstone’s 150th anniversary,” says Tamsen Hert, head of UW Libraries’ Emmett D. Chisum Special Collections. “This exhibition involves the history of printing, art, photography and advertising over 16 decades. The images reproduced are found on travel brochures, postcards and maps—many of which are held in our collections.”
One poster from the exhibition—Henry Wellge’s “Yellowstone National Park” from1904—was recently purchased with donated funds and is now part of UW Libraries’ Emmett D. Chisum Special Collections. Wellge, a productive bird’s-eye-view artist, designed the piece for the Northern Pacific Railroad, which used it to advertise the park. This is a unique piece, as posters such as this one were printed on soft paper and very few have survived.
1. How long will the exhibition “Wonderland Illustrated” last?| A．Two weeks. | B．Three months. | C．Four months. | D．One year. |
| A．To remember a famous artist. | B．To raise fund for Coe Library. |
| C．To mark the anniversary of a national park. | D．To tell the history of the University of Wyoming. |
| A．It is rare in the world. | B．It is in black and white. |
| C．It is printed on cloth. | D．It is owned by a professor. |
6 . Bookstores are second homes for readers. Although many people can now buy books online, many readers still like the feeling in bookstores. They can touch the books and smell the print.
In China, there are many special bookstores. Sanlian Taofen Bookstore became the first 24-hour bookstore in Beijing at the beginning of April. Popular Holdings in Shanghai is a film-themed bookstore. It has film books and posters. Eslite Bookstore in Taiwan often has activities like talks with famous writers.
At the same time, bookstores outside China can be very colorful, too. Scarthin Books is a small bookstore in the UK. It sells new and second-hand books. There are more than100,000 books lying on the shelves of the store’s 12 rooms. Bart’s Books in the US is a good place to enjoy the sunshine while you are reading books. It’s an outdoor bookstore. Bookshelves are on the street. When the store is closed, people can still buy books. They just put money into the door’s coin box. Where can you find a cafe, bar and bookstore in just one place? The answer is probably El Pendulo in Mexico. Books line the walls of the store. On the second floor, visitors can order everyday meals in the cafe and drinks from the bar. In order to keep cool, there are green plants and trees inside. Does it look like a park?
1. ________ special bookstores inside China are mentioned in the passage.| A．Two | B．Three | C．Five | D．Six |
| A．a 24-hour bookstore | B．an outdoor bookstore |
| C．in the U.S. | D．small |
| A．Bart’s Books | B．Popular Holdings |
| C．Eslite Bookstore | D．El Pendulo |
| A．talk with famous writers | B．order meals |
| C．enjoy the sunshine | D．buy film posters |
| A．12 rooms | B．bookshelves |
| C．green plants and trees | D．coin boxes |
7 . For six hundred years, the Tower of London’s most exotic (异域风情的) prisoners were animals.
The Menagerie (动物园) began as a result of kings exchanging rare and strange animals as gifts. In 1235, Henry III was delighted to be presented with three wildcats by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. These inspired him to start a zoo at the Tower. Henry’s ‘wildcats’, although described as leopards, were probably lions. These are the ancestors of the three lions that still appear on the England football team’s shirts today.
In 1252 the lions were joined by a white bear probably a polar bear — given by the King of Norway. In 1255, the King of France sent the first elephant ever seen in England and people flocked together to see the novel (新奇的) sight. Sadly, the elephant died two years later.
Poor treatment and cramped conditions meant many of the animals did not survive for long. But the Menagerie continued to grow. Edward I created a permanent new home for the Menagerie at the western entrance to the Tower in what became known as the Lion Tower. The terrifying sounds and smells of wild animals must have both impressed and scared visitors.
By 1622, the collection had been extended to include three eagles, two pumas, a tiger and a jackal, as well as lions and leopards, who were the main attractions.
However, the end of the Menagerie came in the 1830s. Campaigners had begun to raise concerns, and the animals were expensive, occasionally dangerous and a nuisance to the guardsmen. The Duke of Wellington sent 150 of the beasts to a new zoo in Regent’s Park, today’s London Zoo.
Despite Alfred Cops’s best efforts to carry on, several further incidents including an escaped wolf and a monkey that bit a guardsman’s leg convinced King William IV to shut down the Menagerie for good in 1835. The remaining animals were sold to zoos and travelling shows and the Lion Tower was later pulled down.
1. What do we know about the elephant presented in 1255?| A．It caused big trouble. | B．It received much attention. |
| C．It lived painfully in the Lion Tower. | D．It died before the polar bear came in. |
| A．Eight. | B．Nine. | C．Ten. | D．Eleven. |
| A．Security concerns. | B．The decline of tourism. |
| C．Pressure from campaigners. | D．Financial burden to raise the animals. |
| A．The Royal Menagerie | B．Gifts Presented to the King |
| C．Tourist Attractions in London | D．Miserable Life in the Lion Tower |
8 . A national park is an area set aside by a government for the preservation of the natural environment. The national parks in the United States and Canada center on the protection of both land and wildlife.
It is widely thought that the idea of a park or nature reserve under state ownership started in the United States in 1870.
Partly following the American example, movements supporting national parks sprang up in many other countries.
But interest in parks came later in Asia and Latin America than it did in the Anglo-American countries and Europe.
| A．These movements began in Canada. |
| B．George Catlin offered the idea during the 1830s. |
| C．Visitors are allowed to enter for different purposes. |
| D．Those in the United Kingdom center mainly on the land. |
| E．Japan and Mexico established their first national parks in the 1930s. |
| F．By the early 21st century the NPS managed more than 400 separate areas. |
| G．It is also thought that the world’s first such park was Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. |
9 . Whether you like history or simply learning something new, these four museums are worth paying a visit to.
Tenement Museum
Located in New York, the Tenement Museum showcases the stories of the immigrants and migrants (移民) who came to America between the 1860s and the 1980s. See how they pursued the “American dream.” Their determination and endless desire to carve out a better life not only reflects the depths of the human spirit, but also how America came to be the country it is today.
National Museum of the American Indian
Located in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of the American Indian contains one of the world’s largest collections of native artifacts (手工艺品), photographs and documents. Featuring both ongoing and temporary exhibits, the museum documents many ways American Indians integrated into American history and culture.
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson features eight galleries filled with interactive exhibits that tell the stories of black Mississippians and their fight for equality from 1945 to 1976. You’ll hear the stories of Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Vernon Dahmer, and you’ll also hear about many men, women and children who fought to be recognized as equals. Artifacts include a “colored” entrance sign, the gun used to shoot Evers, a burned cross, and a button from the 1966 March Against Fear.
The National WWII Museum
In New Orleans’ No. 1 attraction, the National WWII Museum, visitors can see why World War II was fought, explore key moments such as D-Day and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and put themselves in the shoes of those who had to make difficult decisions during the war. You even can take a 4D journey through the war in “Beyond All Boundaries.”
1. Which museum best suits visitors interested in ongoing and temporary exhibits?| A．Tenement Museum. | B．National Museum of the American Indian. |
| C．Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. | D．The National WWII Museum. |
| A．He organized the1966 March Against Fear. |
| B．He joined the army and fought in World War II. |
| C．He laid down his own life in the fight for equality. |
| D．He immigrated to the US to pursue his American dream. |
| A．To recommend people to visit the museums. |
| B．To make a comparison of the four museums. |
| C．To remind readers never to forget our past history. |
| D．To share his own experiences in visiting the museums. |
10 . Orbital Assembly Corporation, a new company run by John Blincow, is planning to open a space hotel by 2027. John Blincow once worked as a pilot. His space hotel, called Voyager Station, would hold 280 guests and 112 workers. It is trying to be the first commercial space hotel.
“We’re trying to make people realize that this golden age of space travel is just coming and it’s coming fast,” Blincow told CNN.
Sleeping in a space hotel will not be as comfortable as in a hotel on the earth because of the weightlessness. However, the hotel will find some ways to simulate gravity (模拟重力) to make comfortable rooms possible.
But, for many visitors, they would like to feel the weightlessness in space. As a result, the team plans to offer traditional space food such as freeze-dried ice cream in the hotel’s restaurant. It also plans some activities such as basketball games. Players can jump higher because of the weightlessness of the environment when they play basketball.
For now, the company isn’t talking about the prices of the rooms. However, they will cost a lot more compared with some space tasks. For example, Virgin Galactic plans to send passengers into space at $250, 000 per person, per trip. The team at Voyager Station, however, has already said that they plan to make a stay in the hotel something similar to buying a cruise ticket.
1. How will the space hotel make rooms comfortable?| A．By offering a lot of space food. |
| B．By offering the most comfortable beds. |
| C．By finding ways to make people feel gravity. |
| D．By making people jump higher in rooms. |
| A．The passengers. | B．The rooms. |
| C．The workers. | D．The games. |
| A．It will open by 2027. | B．It will have over 100 workers. |
| C．Room prices don’t come out. | D．It will buy cruise tickets for guests. |
| A．A pilot will build a space hotel in the near future. |
| B．A company has many difficulties in building a hotel. |
| C．Visitors are dreaming of travelling to space in the near future. |
| D．It will be easy and cheap for visitors to travel to space in the future. |
