1 . When a heavy storm hit, residents of the floating community of Schoonschip in Amsterdam had little doubt about whether they could ride it out. They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches, and checked in with neighbors to ensure everyone had enough food and water as their neighborhood slid up and down its steel foundational pillars (支柱), rising along with the water and going back to its original position after the rain stopped.
“We feel safer in storm because we are floating,” says Siti Boelen, a Dutch television producer who moved into Schoonschip two years ago. As sea levels rise and supercharged storms cause waters to rise, floating neighborhoods offer an experiment in flood defense that could allow coastal communities to better fight against climate change.
A floating house can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to deal with rising seas by remaining on the top of the water’s surface. Unlike houseboats, which can easily be moved and relocated, floating homes are fixed to the shore and are usually connected to the local sewer (污水管道) system and power grid. They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull (船体) that acts as a counterbalance, allowing them to remain stable in the water.
Severe wind and rain, or even the passing of large cruise ships, can make the buildings rock. Siti Boelen, the Schoonschip resident, says that when she first moved in, stormy weather made her think twice. “You feel it in your stomach,” she says, adding that she has gotten used to the feeling. Floating homes also require extra infrastructure and work to connect to the electricity grid and sewer system.
But the benefits may outweigh the costs. “If there are floods, it’s expected that many people will move to higher ground. But the alternative is to stay close to coastal cities and explore expansion onto the water,” says Rutger de Graaf. “If you consider that in the second half of the century, hundreds of millions of people will be displaced by sea level rise, we need to start now to increase the scale of floating developments.”
1. What did local residents think when a heavy storm hit?| A．They could get through it. |
| B．They could control the flood. |
| C．They could get some bikes after it. |
| D．They could gain enough food in it. |
| A．She has a sense of security in a storm. |
| B．She gets along well with her neighbors. |
| C．She has produced TV sets used in the storm. |
| D．She makes contributions to defending against flood. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By analyzing reasons. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．The impacts of stormy weather. |
| B．The significance of thinking twice. |
| C．The higher costs of building houses. |
| D．The challenges faced by floating houses. |
2 . Four homes built using everyday objects
Can newspapers and bottles be used as building materials? After touring these four homes built using these objects, you might just believe the answer is yes.
Plastic Bottle Village, Bocas del ToroOne man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Truer words could not describe Robert Bezeau’s project which began in 2012. After collecting tens of thousands of bottles, Bezeau recruited a team of locals to construct a building using the unwanted materials.
The Bottle Houses, Cape Egmon, Prince Edward IslandThe Bottle Houses on Prince Edward Island, Canada, are the creation of Edouard T. Arsenault and his daughter Rejeanne. The father and daughter began construction in 1980. Over the months, they collected empty bottles, and by 1981 they opened the house to the public. Since then, the building has remained open to visitors, with sunny days being the best time to visit.
Earthship Biotecture, Taos, New MexicoMichael Reynolds built his first Earthship when he was 23 years old. Starting out with nothing more than empty bottles, Reynolds set out to create a home that was not only sustainable, but also easy enough for someone without a construction background to build. Earthship Biotecture offers nightly stays. Self-guided tours are also available.
The Paper House, Rockport, MassachusettsWhen Elis F. Stenman built his summer home in 1922, he turned to paper for materials. The design has proven to be quite durable, as it’s still standing nearly 100 years later. The home has been open to visitors since the 1930s, and only began charging 10 cents per person in 1942 when it became a museum. Today visitors can experience the Paper House for themselves for $2 for adults and $1 for children.
1. What do we know about Plastic Bottle Village?| A．It was designed by Bezeau. | B．It was finished in 2012. |
| C．It became trash finally. | D．It was built for a team of locals. |
| A．In the Bottle Houses. | B．In the Paper House. |
| C．In an Earthship. | D．In Plastic Bottle Village. |
| A．It is constructed by a Canadian family. | B．It is used to collect rubbish. |
| C．It is free for children. | D．It is made of paper. |
3 . Hotels often undergo makeovers. However, few can compete with the Ice hotel in Jukkasjãrvi, Sweden. Carved entirely from “Snice”—a mix of snow and ice—the hotel is rebuilt annually, with each version more impressive than the previous one. The 32nd Ice hotel was open to guests on April 17, 2022.
The must-visit Swedish tourist destination came about accidentally. In 1989, Ice hotel’s founder Yngve Berquist organized an art show to attract tourists to Jukkasjärvi during the chilly winter months. The exhibition, held inside a 5.5-square-metre igloo (冰屋), was a runaway (迅速的) success. Many visitors decided to spend the night, selling out all of Jukkasjärvi’s warm houses. Hence, when a group approached Berquist about a place to spend the night, he offered them the igloo. “To my surprise, the guests were very impressed by the experience the morning after. Ice hotel was born,” Berquist recalls.
The Ice hotel has come a long way since its humble (简陋的)start. Constructed from 1, 000 tons of ice, and 30,000 tons of “Snice”, it now covers an area of over 5, 500 square metres, Preparations for the annual hotel begin in March with the harvesting of 5,000 tons of ice from the nearby Torne River. The ice is kept in cold storage until November when about 100 workers and artists get to work carving out a new structure. Ice hotel is typically open for business by mid-December.
This year’s hotel comprises 36 rooms, including 12 crafted art suites (套间). Decorated with massive ice stones and carved water shapes, it aims to provide visitors with a good nature experience. The “Dickensian Street” suite promises to take visitors on a tour of 19th-century England, complete with cobbled (铺鹅卵石的) streets, shops, and buildings from the era. Guests are advised to stay inside thermal (保暖的) sleeping bags and wear gloves and winter hats all night. Not surprisingly, most move to the conventional, warmer cabins nearby after a single night.
1. When was Sweden’s Ice hotel open for the 22nd time?| A．In 2012. | B．In 1992. | C．In 1990. | D．In 2022. |
| A．Warm houses’ being sold out. | B．The special warmth of it. |
| C．The cheap ticket of it. | D．The unique structures of ice. |
| A．Differences of Ice hotel rebuilt from ever before. |
| B．The preparations for the annual hotel rebuilt. |
| C．How the ice is kept in cold storage in Ice hotel. |
| D．The development and construction of Ice hotel. |
| A．Wear summer clothes even if in winter. |
| B．Spend nights in modern rooms in warm sleeping bags. |
| C．Experience 19th-century England in the “Dickensian Street” suite. |
| D．Taste different kinds of local special food in the Dickensian Street. |
4 . How might architecture aid in solving the housing crisis and help build a more sustainable future? In 2019, 3D printing company WASP and Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) revealed their concept to design the first 3D printed house made entirely from clay. Today, the joint project, known as TECLA, is finally complete and on display near Bologna, Italy.
Over the past few years, a number of 3D printed homes and communities have been conceptualized. While previous structures were made from concrete or plastic, TECLA was built from soil found at the site mixed with water, fibers from rice husks (壳) and a binder (粘合剂), the last of which is less than 5% of the total volume. Printing with clay does have its weaknesses. It’s a much slower process than quick-drying concrete — the design can be printed in 200 hours but the clay mixture can take weeks to dry, depending on climate, and it also has height limitations.
Building homes from earth, Cucinella pointed out, is not new. “The challenge was really using an old material in the history of architecture with new technology to find a new shape of a house,” Cucinella said. To that end, the Crane WASP printers mixed water with the local earth, and then printed the 60-square-meter TECLA model layer by layer. The design features two circular spaces joined together with skylights, inviting full natural light inside. The residence includes a living area, a bedroom and bathroom. Its furniture, including tables and chairs, can also be printed using WASP’s machinery, while components like doors and windows were fixed post-printing.
The idea behind TECLA isn’t necessarily to copy the same home for any environment, but to adjust the design based on the location. “We are not producing one type of house that you can print and use everywhere, because it’s different if you design a house in the north of Italy, or in the middle of Africa,” Cucinella explained. “The house responds to different climates.” Additionally, the building process can be easily taught and widely used.
1. What is the disadvantage of printing with clay?| A．3D printers are costly. | B．Clay is not strong enough. |
| C．It’s not easy to mix rice husks with clay. | D．It takes a long time to dry the mixture. |
| A．It is air-conditioned. | B．It is the first 3D printed house. |
| C．It is fully equipped. | D．It adopts a solar heating system. |
| A．It adapts to different climates. | B．It limits the height of buildings. |
| C．It uses few binders in printing. | D．It can be moved without effort. |
| A．The challenges for 3D printing |
| B．Is this 3D printed home the future of housing? |
| C．The ways to renew 3D printing machinery |
| D．Can we simplify the instructions on 3D printing? |
5 . As economies prosper all over the world, the top 10 best amusement parks in the world in 2020 are contributing to great growth through the ticket sales, sale promotion and innovative rides and attractions at the most popular theme parks in the world. This article breaks down the best amusement parks in the world ranked by popularity and annual attendance.
The industry is changing and is becoming more innovative and magical than ever before. The top 10 best amusement parks in the world are attracting record attendees and growing at such a fast rate, expect to see more expansions and increased license deals to bring even more fairy tales to reality in the future.
1. Which of the following is the most visited amusement park?| A．Disneyland Park. | B．Universal Studios Japan. |
| C．Shanghai Disneyland Park. | D．Disney’s Hollywood Studios. |
| A．About 10 million. | B．About 11 million. | C．About 15 million. | D．About 21 million. |
| A．The future of the world amusement parks. | B．A sharp increase in attendee numbers. |
| C．The innovative and magical fairy tales. | D．The attracting entertainment industry. |
6 . Great Food Markets Around the Globe
Around the world, food markets create a place for community gathering and nourishment and they allow visitors to immerse themselves in the culture and history of their destinations, all while serving up delectable—and often adventurous—culinary treats. These 6 open-air markets, soaring food halls, and colorful bazaars are wonderful places to savor in local flavor and discover inspiring ingredients.
Castries Market in Castries, St. Lucia
This colorful Caribbean market is filled with tropical fruits and vegetables, including breadfruit, jambu, and soursop, as well as island-grown spices. Coconut water straight from a young coco-nut is a particular treat.
Old Market Hall and Kaup-patori Market Square in Helsinki, Finland
The vendors of Helsinki’s iconic Kauppatori Market Square serve up herring seaside as they hawk Finn-ish meat pastries. Nearby, inside the renovated Old Market Hall, artisan breads, smoked meats, and classic sweets are on offer.
St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, Canada
Saturday is farmers market day in downtown Toronto, a tradition dating back to 1803, held along-side 120 specialty food and craft vendors. Save room for a peameal bacon sandwich, a local specialty.
Ferry Building in San Francisco, California
You can make an amazing meal by grazing through the restaurants and gourmet food vendors of the Ferry Building every day of the week. But Saturdays, when the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market surrounds the building, offer the real feast.
Mercado de la Merced in Mexico City, Mexico
The first thing you notice at Mer-cado de la Merced is its size: the equivalent of about eight city blocks filled with chilies, cactus fruit, cha-pulines (grasshoppers), and innu-merable other Mexican ingredients.
Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo’s wholesale fish market— the world’s largest—has moved to the new Toyosu Market, but the bustling outer market at Tsukiji remains and is still a highlight for sushi lovers. Find freshly sliced sashimi among 300-plus shops and restaurants (generally closed on Sundays and Wednesdays).
1. What is special for visitors if they went to Castries Market?| A．Coconut water | B．Tropical fruits and vegetables |
| C．A peameal bacon sandwich | D．Freshly sliced sashimi |
| A．Wednesday | B．Saturday | C．Friday | D．Thursday |
| A．St. Lawrence Market | B．Ferry Building |
| C．Mercado de la Merced | D．Tsukiji Fish Market |
7 . Best Miami Hotels for Families
If you’re planning a visit to Miami with your family, consider a stay at one of these hotels.
InterContinental Miami
You can’t miss the InterContinental Miami, especially at night, when the 35-story building shines with interchanging neon colors. The hotel offers two restaurants as well as a rooftop bar (酒吧). The workers of the hotel pull out all the stops for its youngest guests, too. The InterContinental Miami is located by a stop for the Metromover, a free, small train that runs in the downtown and Brickell area.
Kimpton EPIC
Kimpton EPIC is one of the hottest hotels in Miami. Families can enjoy two restaurants and a reservable (可预定的) private dining room for events and celebrations, as well as Kimpton Kids , a kids’ program that provides kids activities in the fitness rooms, kids’ menus and more. The hotel has a full-service spa (休闲健身中心) and families have the choice to rent (租) bikes on a first come, first served basis. There are also two rooftop pools.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
There are 11 pools at Fontainebleau Miami Beach—11 pools! There’s also a beach just steps from the hotel, and kids can take part in FB Kids, a program that includes games and movie nights. When it’s time to enjoy a meal together, there are 12 restaurants at the hotel.
Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay
The Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay is an excellent choice for families cruising (乘船游览) out of the Port of Miami but is equally good for a long stay. The hotel has an outdoor pool and a restaurant with outdoor dining, and is pet-friendly. It is close to many attractions, including the American Airlines Arena, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performance Arts and South Beach.
1. What does Kimpton EPIC offer?| A．Great kids activities. |
| B．Three rooftop pools. |
| C．A program called FB Kids. |
| D．Free bike use for every guest. |
| A．Kimpton EPIC. |
| B．InterContinental Miami. |
| C．Fontainebleau Miami Beach. |
| D．Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. |
| A．It provides train rides. |
| B．It allows guests to take pets. |
| C．It offers a wide choice of pools. |
| D．It has a reservable private dining room. |
1. What does the cinema fail to offer?
| A．Comfortable seats. | B．Large-sized screen. | C．High-quality sound system. |
| A．Eight kilometers. | B．Five kilometers. | C．Four kilometers. |
| A．Have a picnic. | B．Light a barbecue. | C．See movies for free. |
1. What is the disadvantage of this apartment according to the man?
| A．It isn’t large enough. |
| B．It is on the top floor. |
| C．It is a corner apartment. |
| A．She often sings songs. |
| B．She likes listening to music. |
| C．She doesn’t get along well with her neighbors. |
| A．Its location. | B．Its price. | C．Its size. |
| A．Talk with their neighbors. |
| B．Continue searching. |
| C．Take the apartment. |
