1 . In 1670, two Scottish doctors set up a garden in the city of Edinburgh to find out connections between plants and medicine. That first garden wasn’t very big — about the size of a tennis court. Fast-forward 350 years, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) now covers an area bigger than 1,000 tennis courts. The RBGE’s goal is to “explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.

After doctors and distant cousins Robert Sibbald and Andrew Balfour graduated from university in the mid-17th century, they shared the goal of improving Scottish medicine by looking into botanical (plant-related) research. They found some land near Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh and started to collect plants. They taught students how to grow exotic (外来的) plants and use them to make medicines. As the collection expanded (增加), the garden moved to different sites, including what is now Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.

In 1823, the garden was moved to its current location in Inverleith, a suburb of Edinburgh. It took three years to move the collection of plants and trees using specially built machines. The Tropical Palm House was built in 1834, and it was joined by the larger Temperate Palm House in 1858. Both are still popular with visitors. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the RBGE continued to search for new specimens (标本) from around the world.

The RBGE has about 13,500 species of living plants in its collection today. The herbarium — a collection of dried and protected species — includes more than three million plant samples, which represent more than half of the world’s known plants. The oldest specimen dates back to 1697. Experts continue to recognize new species each year, as well as growing plants that are extinct in their own habitats. The RBGE also works with botanical gardens around the world, including in Africa and South America, and supports them with conservation projects, education and training.

1. Why did Robert and Andrew build up the garden?

A．To teach people some knowledge about exotic plants.

B．To do research on plants and medicine.

C．To protect endangered wildlife.

D．To practice their tennis skills.

2. When was the Tropical Palm House set up?

A．In the mid-17th century.	B．In the 20th century.
C．In1834.	D．In1858.

3. What do we know about the RBGE?

A．It has made achievements in growing extinct plants.

B．It has collected less than half of all known plants.

C．It is going to expand its sites in other countries.

D．It collects native plants only.

4. What is this text mainly about?

A．How the RBGE has expanded.	B．The progress of saving endangered plants.
C．Why a botanic garden was built.	D．An introduction to the RBGE.

2 . In China, tea is a traditional drink, which is not only good for your health but can also enrich your mind. The following are some information of teahouses.

Guozijian Yicheng Teahouse

Run by two beautiful girls who play the seven-stringed guqin, this place is elegant and classic. Guests here not only enjoy fragrant tea but also the beautiful music of guqin.

Address: No. 8, Guozijian Avenue, Dongcheng District

Minghui Teahouse

Located in an old temple, this teahouse will provide you a place of serenity. The teahouses here are divided into six private rooms so guests can be fully relaxed in the comfortable environment. The workers are all dressed in traditional clothes of the Qing Dynasty. When enjoying a cup of tea, you may feel your troubles have disappeared.

Address: Inside Dajue Temple, Haidian District

Peng Chacha

Besides fragrant tea, this place is also famous for its entertainment equipment as it offers playing cards, chess and many other games. Guests here can enjoy tea while chatting and playing games. On the first floor, there are many kinds of nuts and snacks to try. And the second floor has many small rooms, which offer more privacy for conversation.

Address: No. 549, Jianhe Road, Changning District

Taihe Teahouse

Showing a lot of special furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this place attracts many people who appreciate traditional Chinese culture. As for the tea, its selection and quality may be beyond your imagination. Even the water for making tea is transported from the famous Hupao Spring in Hangzhou.

Address: No. 569, Pudong Avenue, Pudong New District

1. If you want to enjoy the music of guqin while drinking tea, you must go to_______.

A．Taihe Teahouse	B．Guozijian Yicheng Teahouse
C．Peng Chacha	D．Minghui Teahouse

2. The underlined word “serenity” probably means _______.

A．calm and peace	B．anxiety and tiredness
C．noise and sorrow	D．joy and happiness

3. Which of the following is the one that the guests can NOT do in Peng Chacha?

A．Enjoying tea.	B．Playing games.
C．Watching plays.	D．Chatting.

4. We know from the text that ________.

A．drinking tea is not good for your health but can enrich your mind

B．the workers in Peng Chacha are all dressed in traditional clothes of the Qing Dynasty

C．there are many kinds of nuts and snacks to try on the second floor in Peng Chacha

D．the water for making tea in Taihe Teahouse is transported from the famous Hupao Spring in Hangzhou

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How did Penang Toy Museum enter the Malaysian Book of Records?

A．It has the biggest toy in Malaysia.

B．It’s the largest museum in Malaysia.

C．It’s the first toy museum in Malaysia.

2. When did the owner get his first toy?

A．In 1973.

B．In 2000.

C．In 2005.

3. What do we know about the Gundam robot?

A．It’s from Malasia.

B．It’s cheap and ordinary.

C．It’s 180 centimeters tall.

4. How many hours is the museum open on Saturday?

A．6

B．9

C．12

4 . Top running routes in the USA

Holidays for some people are all about relaxing on the beach but for others, it’s important to be out and about. Walking and running holidays allow travellers to explore the beauty of a country and get plenty of fresh air without spending too much money. Here are some of the most beautiful running routes (路线) in the USA — you may want to give these a go.

Mammoth Lakes

An area favoured by athletes from all over the world, Mammoth Lakes offers amazing views and plenty of trails (小路) along with a healthy running community for active travellers to explore. Well-known track coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen brought marathon superstars to the area in 2001 and ever since, it has trained 12 Olympians who have earned two Olympic medals as well as three major marathon wins.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

Perfect for runners who like a bit of variety on their route, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail offers 24 miles of path going through a number of neighbourhoods, popular shopping and entertainment districts (娱乐区) and green space providing the perfect guide to the city on two feet.

Naples

Naples is well-known for its high-end shopping, world-class culture and high-class dining. The best running trail is along Gulf Shore Boulevard and Gordon Road, with views of the white sandy beaches and water, and some of Naples boutique hotels and holiday homes.

Barr Trail

The Barr Trail is a trail that began as a way to enter mining (采矿) areas on Pikes Peak and later developed into a tourist trail. It starts in Manitou Springs, a little tourist town just west of The Springs, and climbs to the top of Pikes Peak in about 12 miles and 7,400 feet of vertical (垂直的) gain. This is not an easy route so be sure to pack the right supplies and rest when you need to.

1. What might you experience in Mammoth Lakes?

A．Running like an Olympian.

B．Meeting your favourite stars.

C．Taking part in a major marathon.

D．Being trained by Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen.

2. On which route can runners eat delicious food?

A．Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

B．Barr Trail.

C．Mammoth Lakes.

D．Naples.

3. Which route provides different places and helps you know the city well?

A．Mammoth Lakes.

B．Barr Trail.

C．Naples.

D．Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

4. Which route passes along a coastline?

A．Naples.

B．Barr Trail.

C．Mammoth Lakes.

D．Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

5. Who might be interested in the Barr Trail most?

A．Coal miners.	B．Window shoppers.
C．Competitive swimmers.	D．Experienced adventurers.

5 . Which restaurant will the speakers go to tonight ?

A．Mary’s.

B．Napa Valley.

C．The Parlor.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What should you do if you need a coach?

A．Rent some equipment.

B．Register on the notice board.

C．Make an appointment in advance.

2. What is next to the sports center?

A．A small bar.

B．The reception desk.

C．A swimming pool.

3. How much is the buffet?

A．Four pounds.

B．Eight pounds.

C．Ten pounds.

4. What does the announcement introduce?

A．A mini market.

B．A holiday camp.

C．The Sherwood Restaurant.

7 . Touchdown spaces are simple work spaces that may be employed as a replacement for a larger office.     1    They can also refer to a cubicle (小隔间) in a business setup that provides a place for individuals to work. Rental agreements can be signed on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

    2    One cubicle may have a telephone, some type of Internet access, a desk, and a chair. An overhead light may also be provided. In addition, the individual space will be supplied with any other items needed, such as printers, pencils, notepads, and other tools which are common in an office environment.

One ideal customer for a touchdown space is someone who is starting his or her own business and wants a space outside the home for work-related tasks.    3    However, renting a cubicle is often much less expensive and may include some of the amenities (便利设施) that come along with a rented office space.

A touchdown space is also taken advantage of by business people who are in town for a short period of time. Rather than working in a hotel room, the visiting business professionals will rent a desk for them during their stay in town.     4    

Not every city recently offers touchdown spaces as a replacement for larger offices.     5    One of the best ways of locating a rental touchdown space is identifying any business setup resources within the town locally.

A．However, the idea is really gaining more attention.

B．They can be a rented work space within a working office.

C．Doing so allows these people to separate work time from personal time.

D．Touchdown spaces often include a few basics needed for doing business.

E．In today’s office environments, different tasks require different work spaces.

F．Touchdown spaces, at the very least, require a table, a chair, and Internet access.

G．They usually have limited money, and renting even a small office is not practical.

8 . The Australian Outback town of Quilpie is home to 800 people. The town hoped its offer of free land might draw five new families to the community. In less than two weeks, the town has received more than 250 requests for information about the offer from around Australia and other countries around the world. The town leaders came up with the idea to deal with a housing shortage. The lack of housing made it difficult to fill jobs in the remote area of western Queensland state. People who buy land, build a house on it for less than 560,000 dollars, and live in it for six months can receive a 9,400 dollars payment, known as a grant. A block of land in Quilpie, about 1,000-square meters, sells for around the same amount as the grant. It means the town is effectively giving the land away.

The idea for the grant offer came from Justin Hancock, head of the town council. The 30-year-old spent six months in a retirement (退休) home when he first arrived in Quilpie this year because of the area’s housing shortage. Quilpie has recently needed workers in healthcare and education. It also needs people who can fix cars and prepare meat and many other kinds of workers. Questions about the free land program came from as far away as Britain, India, and New Zealand. But home buyers need to be Australian citizens or permanent (永久) residents to be a candidate for the grant.

Hancock said recently that getting five new families to the area would be a big success. “To see the interest,” he added, “it was a little overwhelming (难以处理的事情).” Real estate prices have increased greatly across much of Australia throughout the coronavirus crisis. Lockdowns in the largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, and low interest rates have sent people to search for larger homes in smaller towns. Most of the interest in coronavirus-free Quilpie has come from the state capital, Brisbane, a city of 2.4 million on the Pacific Ocean 1,000 kilometers to the east. But there is also interest from Melbourne, Newcastle, and Western Australia state. Both young families and retired people are considering the Quilpie move. They have different reasons. “People who are coming out of lockdown (锁定) are saying I want wide open spaces, and we have plenty of that,” Hancock said.

The area that Quilpie is in, known as a shire, covers 68,000 square kilometers. Two grants will be received by Quilpie locals, one by council employee Tom Hennessy, 23, and his 24-year-old school teacher fiancee (未婚妻), Tessa McDougall. The couple bought a block of land in August. “I love Quilpie. It’s a great place. Everyone’s friendly,” Hennessy said. Hennessy was born in Quilpie and his fiancee came a year ago from Brisbane.

1. Why does Quilpie attract so many people to live here?

A．Quilpie has a lot of abandoned houses.

B．Good jobs can be found in Quilpie.

C．Quilpie is close to the capital of Australia.

D．Quilpie offered the land free of charge.

2. What are the requirements for receiving the grant?

A．To have a villa of your own in Australia.

B．The real estate has to be $20 million.

C．Applicants need to recommend five families to move to town.

D．Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

3. What does the underlined word “estate” in third paragraph mean?

A．房产

B．性质

C．情况

D．遗产

4. What did the Hennesses think of the town?

A．boring

B．disappointing

C．full of happiness

D．dissatisfying

9 . Even though these monuments are extremely well known, they hold secrets that not many people are aware of.

Empire State Building

On the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building in New York, there is a secret observation deck that not a lot of people know about. To access the balcony, you have to take a series of elevators and then a very steep, narrow staircase. The observation deck isn’t open to the public, but many celebrities have been photographed there.

Eiffel Tower

There is a secret apartment and office at the very top of the Eiffel Tower that has just recently become open to the public. In 1889, Gustave Eiffel, the engineer of this famous Paris landmark, built himself a private apartment and office. It has been restored and has wax models of Gustave, his daughter, and American inventor Thomas Edison on display.

Statue of Liberty

There is actually a room in the torch of the Statue of Liberty that showcases breathtaking views of the city. People used to be able to visit that room until 1916 when German agents blew up a nearby wharf (码头). The explosion sent broken pieces into the raised arm of Lady Liberty, making the staircase up to the hidden room unsafe.

Disneyland

Hardcore Disney fans might think they know all of the secrets of the park, a famous U.S. landmark, but many haven’t heard of Club 33. This exclusive restaurant is hidden behind an unmarked door in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. If you want to dine here on your next trip to Disneyland, don’t get your hopes up. It costs $25,000 to join the club, plus an annual fee of $12,000.

1. What do the monuments have in common?

A．They are all in Europe.

B．They all have skyscrapers.

C．They are all the best-known.

D．They all hide little-known secrets.

2. Which of the four has the easiest access?

A．Disneyland.	B．Eiffel Tower.
C．Statue of Liberty.	D．Empire State Building.

3. Which can be used to replace the underlined word “exclusive” in the last paragraph?

A．Attractive.	B．Expensive.
C．Wonderful.	D．Beautiful.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When does the man plan to check in?

A．Three days later.

B．Four days later.

C．Seven days later.

2. What kind of room does the man take?

A．One with one bed and a kitchen.

B．One with two beds and a kitchen.

C．One with two beds and no kitchen.

3. How much will the man pay?

A．$400.

B．$800.

C．$1200.