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 Hostel

If 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 Palace

If 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 Hostel

If 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 Artistes

Hotel 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.

2. Which hotel best suits people who enjoy an active social life?

A．Yellow Hostel.	B．Hostel Alessandro Palace.
C．Youth Station Hostel.	D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes.

3. What is the disadvantage of 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 . Italy’s cheap old homes continue to appeal to hundreds of interested buyers, among whom was Roy Patrick, a 67-year-old British who deals in antiques in Italy. Patrick bought an old school house in the mountain village of Carrega for $16,500. It’s both an adventure and a joy.

Patrick bought the property quite by accident. When told about the wonders of the village, he toured there to take a look and was instantly struck by the 1930s school building. “The house is particular and the view is unique: The way the sun goes down over the mountains, you’d say ‘wow’. It’s a fantastic wonderland,” says Patrick.

The property was offloaded by the local government to boost the populations of communities in decline. Since the purchase, he’s been visiting every two weeks and finds it has many charms. “Top of the list is the friendliness of the local residents, followed by the breathtaking views I get out of the windows looking across the valley,” he adds.

Patrick’s initial encounter with his new home was less than promising. He had to climb through a window to open up the building, which had been shut for decades and whose door was jammed, with the keys nowhere to be found.

However, a later structural disaster turned into a positive story. When an unstable chimney (烟囱) collapsed due to a heavy snow, a neighbor volunteered to climb onto his roof to make it safe. The locals are so welcoming that they are ready to help newcomers.

During the restoration needed to make the old school habitable, Patrick unexpectedly unearthed a great many treasures: dusty piles of old text books, inkwells, pupil registers and other historical items.

Patrick has some advice for those with the thought of buying a house in Carrega: There is absolutely nothing, just great views, pure air and clean surroundings. No bars, supermarkets, or restaurants. A vehicle is essential to move around. However, Carrega does spring to life in the summer when vacationers arrive to relax. “There are nights when people throw a party with loud music,” says Patrick. “Otherwise it’s just singing birds and total silence.”

1. What led to Patrick’s purchase of the old schoolhouse?

A．The locals’ friendly attitude.	B．Its location and rising value.
C．Its uniqueness and surroundings.	D．The government’s housing welfare.

2. What was the government’s intention of selling the property?

A．To attract more settlers.	B．To boost local tourism.
C．To preserve village traditions.	D．To reform education system.

3. What’s one of Patrick’s added bonuses of getting the house?

A．Acquiring more personal space.	B．Digging up some historical finds.
C．Enjoying a more active social life.	D．Getting free home decoration service.

4. How does it feel most of the time living in Carrega?

A．Quiet.	B．Lively.
C．Modern.	D．Convenient.

3 . The 14th National Games held in Xi’an has triggered great interest — not only in sports and fitness, but also in the host city itself. If you are planning a tour of Xi’an taking less than 3 days, you’ll want to hit all the following highlights.

The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army is not just China’s premier historical attraction but one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, which was constructed by China’s First Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC). It is a collection of thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots (战车) in battle formation, showing the emperor’s armies in full splendor.

Ancient City Wall

Xi’an City Wall was built in the 14th century by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as a military defense system. Now it is one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls. The wall is now a landmark, dividing the city into inner and outer areas.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

One of China’s most famous Buddhist pagodas, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) for the study of Buddhist scriptures. One of the main functions of the pagoda was to store sutras (经文) brought to China from India by the famous monk and traveler Xuan Zang. It was built with layers of bricks and has a grand structure and appearance. It is exemplary of traditional Chinese architecture.

Shaanxi History Museum

The Shaanxi History Museum is home to over 370,000 precious relics unearthed in Shaanxi over the years. Its collections range from bronze wares to pottery figures, gold and silver wares and wall paintings from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) tombs. Among its precious collections, 18 pieces have been listed as national treasures.

1. Which of the following has the longest history?

A．The Terracotta Army.	B．Ancient City Wall.
C．Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.	D．Shaanxi History Museum.

2. What can visitors see in Shaanxi History Museum?

A．Chariots discovered in Xi’an.	B．Sutras brought from India to China.
C．Relics unearthed in Shaanxi.	D．Wall paintings from the Qing Dynasty tombs.

3. What do the four attractions have in common?

A．They hold collections of antiques.	B．They are of historical and cultural value.
C．They represent the modern spirit of Xi’an.	D．They are examples of traditional Chinese architecture.

4 . It was a cold Saturday night in February. Some 200 New Yorkers carefully made their way to the reservoir (水库) in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the magical snowy owl, who had touched down in the park the week before in what was reported as the first visit there by the species in more than 130 years.

Except for a few excited screams from children, people were quiet — patiently awaiting the owl’s arrival at the reservoir’s north gatehouse. The snowy owl did not disappoint. She flew down from the darkness and surveyed the water and the people holding phones and cameras before taking off into the night to the applause of her many fans. They simply wanted to see this lovely creature whose improbable appearance seemed to signify hope after the lockdown.

New Yorkers who had long taken Central Park for granted felt a renewed love for this rectangle of green in the heart of the big city and, of course, its amazing wildlife. That the park is a beautiful and essential refuge is something that humans have only come to fully appreciate during these recent times of uncertainty.

Central Park was originally planned and constructed during another difficult time in the nation’s history — in the years before and during the American Civil War. Unlike many European parks that had originally been built for the aristocracy (贵族), Central Park was designed as a public space. In its chief architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s words, the poor and rich alike could “easily go there after their day’s work is done” and “stroll for an hour, seeing, hearing, and feeling nothing of the noise of the streets.”

As spring turns into summer, we see people sitting on the grass or benches — catching some sun, having family picnics, or tapping away on their laptops and iPads. Just being in proximity to other people in Central Park gave us a sense of community — the sense that we would somehow persevere.

1. What did people do in Central Park on that Saturday night?

A．They cheered for each other.	B．They paid their first visit.
C．They came for a rare sight.	D．They appreciated a water event.

2. What does the author mainly intend to do in Paragraph 4?

A．Give some examples.	B．Make a comparison.
C．Introduce a new opinion.	D．Add background information.

3. What do the underlined words “in proximity to” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．close to	B．free from
C．at a distance from	D．in comparison with

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Find Refuge in Central Park

B．Take Your Breath by Snow Owl

C．Trace Central Park to difficult times

D．Meet an improbable “visitor” in person

5 . Kenny Eating House is always crowded in the late afternoons right up to midnight. You will see many people standing around the tables.     1     Once there is the slightest indication that the customers are leaving their table, you will see a few people diving for it. The victor will stand at the table proudly waving his relatives or friends over, while the losers will be down in the mouth.

    2     You next have to get the attention of the busy waiters rushing about to attend to the customers. You will usually hear the words ‘hot water’ being shouted out as they pass, even if they are not holding any such thing!     3     In between trying to catch the attention of the waiters and looking through the menu, you will hear customers complaining about the slow service.

Once the waiter comes to take your orders, he is impatient. Sometimes, these waiters would just walk away from indecisive customers and the latter would have to work hard at getting some attention again. Usually, the waiters shout the orders out to the cooks located deep in the kitchen.     4    

Whenever the crowd gets too thick, the waiters will ask customers to share their tables with those standing. When the tables are shared by two different groups of people, the loudness becomes incredibly deafening. With plates clanking and people talking loudly, you need to shout to be heard.     5     The hardworking waiters can finally sit down for a chat or have their cigarettes. The activity at the eating place winds down, ready to recover before the next day of madness arrives.

A．Don’t lose heart.

B．They are fully occupied around the clock.

C．This is in fact their clever way of clearing the way.

D．But having found a place to sit is not the end of the wait.

E．And such behavior adds to the busy atmosphere of the place.

F．They will be on the watch for a table most likely to be empty.

G．By the midnight the crowd begin to thin and the noise dies down.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

For travelers who used to think that Chinese farmers live in poor conditions, the rural tours can be quite an eye opener.    1     (travel) to Jiangsu's rural villages, many of which look like beautiful postcard scenes, might be totally different from     2     you have imagined. A rural tour to the province might allow travelers to have a glance at their daily lives as well as the    3     (develop) of China's rural areas in recent years.

Longshang village, which has 140 people from 51 households, is    4    (locate) at the foot of Youzi Mountain in Nanjing's Gaochun district. It used to have ruined houses,     5     (mud) roads and annoying flies everywhere. In 2017, experts     6     (invite) to design the village's landscape and help restore its ancient buildings. Now it has become    7    “internet celebrity” and attracted many visitors    8     (draw) by its tea houses, cafes and book stores.

Also in Nanjing, Bulao village in Pukou district, known as Never Aging village, has attracted many who are interested in finding the secret of staying young.     9     clean water and refreshing air, the village impresses many by its stone streets, ancient-style farm houses and various sports venues     10     people can go hiking, play baseball and go fishing.

7 . Shannan Hearne's oldest dream was to own a ranch(牧场). In February 2020, her dream finally came true when she opened the gates of Sun and Moon Ranch. Then, just a month later, the county slid into COVID-19 lockdown.     1    

With large areas of grasslands and plenty of sunshine and fresh air, there was no safer way for frightened neighbors to get out of the house.     2     Sure, you can sign up for riding lessons or board your horse. But you can also drop by to play with the chickens, goats, and dogs, or join the younger ranchers playing on the big pile of freshly dug dirt. Hearne now saw the ranch as something more than a business－it would be a place the community could call home.

    3       Many of them came not just for free cookouts, but for the chance to find peace of mind. “I had a vision for the space able to help cure those in need," says Hearne. One of those people, now 15, was born without fingers on one hand. His grandmother brought him to Sun and Moon for riding lessons Learning to control a horse with one hand helped him better manage his disability, and he grew closer to his grandmother over their shared love of horses. “    4    And I believe this is especially true for children or anyone who struggles with any sort of psychological issues," Hearne says.

Another boy became selectively silent because of his autism (自闭症).    5     Taking the reins (缰绳), literally, helped him do so in his daily life too. “I could see how the empowerment of riding was helping him feel once again in control of the world around him," says Hearne.

A．The ranch, Hearne realized, should be for everybody.

B．As the pandemic deepened, locals began to gather there.

C．Soon Hearne's dream began to grow into something bigger.

D．Locals desired to put up a tent there when they felt won out.

E．Lesson by lesson, Hearne watched him slowly come out of his own world.

F．He went from not answering questions to literally talking our ears off.

G．There is something empowering about controlling a thousand-pound animal.

8 . Why is the museum of great significance?

A．It’s a museum for old art.

B．It will be built on a small island.

C．It’s the first of its kind in Indonesia.

9 . The Coolest Tiny Home Getaways

The tiny home trend is the newest way to enjoy some home atmosphere during a trip. If you are looking for the coolest tiny home getaways, start by looking at these few:

Relaxing Private Roundhouse (South Hills, Eugene, Oregon)

This tiny home is made of cedar and glass, providing the coziest of cabin feels. It’s got all the essentials you’d need, like a queen-sized bed, a rocking chair to let you enjoy one of your favourite books and WiFi, in case you plan on connecting with the rest of the world on your stay away from home. This tiny house holds up to 3 guests and will cost you a little over $150 a night.

Unique Modern Tiny House (Candler Park, Atlanta, Georgia)

Enjoy the best of both worlds in this Atlanta two-bedroom, one-bath stylish mini-home. You’ll be locked into a fully private pad that is also situated close to the city’s hot spot restaurants and Ponce City Market. For $120 a night, you and 3 others can surely enjoy the modern luxury in a home half the size of what you are used to.

Seattle Tiny House (Des Moines, Seattle, Washington)

Near the Sea-Tac airport and major freeways, the “Seattle Tiny House” is a modern farmhouse with a full-sized kitchen and bathroom. At roughly $100 a day, with the option of having a late check-in and late check-out at your convenience, you can plan your perfect getaway for 5. If you ever dreamed of living on a farm, this is a great way to get the experience without breaking the bank or committing to moving altogether.

Tiny House in the Clouds (Balboa Park, San Diego, California)

Close to Balboa Park, with sparkling clean upstairs unit, it is very well designed and comfortable with thoughtful homey details. The place was well kept and has an incredible view of downtown and the Coronado bridge. For $92 a night and holding up to 2 guests, it is perfect for couples.

1. What can you do in the Relaxing Private Roundhouse?

A．Receive queen-like services.	B．Have a perfect view of the downtown.
C．Enjoy dinner in the popular restaurants.	D．Read books in a comfortable chair.

2. Where can a couple and their twins have farm experience?

A．Relaxing Private Roundhouse.	B．Unique Modern Tiny House.
C．Seattle Tiny House.	D．Tiny House in the Clouds.

3. What do the four tiny homes have in common?

A．Having basic living essentials.	B．Being close to the park.
C．Having modern luxury.	D．Having flexible schedule for checking in and out.

10 . From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the orange gardens of Seville, urban planners down the ages have taken inspiration from nature. And those living in the concrete and brick jungle have perhaps never appreciated green space more than during the covid-19 pandemic. During lockdowns, citizens have found parks and gardens an unexpected source of calm and joy.

The evidence of positive effects from nature includes studies on specific psychological conditions.     1     It can promote positive social interactions and even help generate a sense of meaning to life. Being in green environments boosts various aspects of thinking, including attention, memory and creativity. Equally healthy natural spaces provide us with a whole range of essential “ecosystem services” for free.     2    

The evolving understanding of nature’s broad health benefits, plus our ongoing pandemic experience, is a big urge to build the green cities.     3     The Million Trees Los Angeles initiative and an ambitious greening programme in New York are the inspiring examples in the US.

    4     Most urban growth in the next decades will occur in developing nations. China encourages the building of parks, green spaces and wildlife passageways in many cities. Admittedly, developing countries face many challenges in building greener cities, but they can learn from the mistakes already made in older-growth cities in the West.

    5     It is important to make green spaces multipurpose so they meet a variety of needs. Biologist Gretchen Daily, at Stanford University, has pioneered the concept of ecosystem services as a way of evaluating the benefits nature provides and factoring these values into economic decision-making. She also favours combining more natural elements into the built environment, such as green roofs, and even designing buildings that imitate patterns found in nature.

A．How to build green cities is a problem.

B．What does an ideal green city of tomorrow look like?

C．Actually, the trend for urban greening has already begun.

D．This isn’t just a phenomenon in developed countries, either.

E．Clean air and water, nutrient recycling and flood defence are the bonuses.

F．Access to nature can improve sleep, reduce stress and increase happiness.

G．It has a huge impact on people’s perceptions of their health and well-being.