1 . Best Things to Do in Boston

Boston is bursting with around-the-clock amusement and entertainment-from outdoor markets to museums.

Boston Public Garden

Sitting next to Boston Common, this large public park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who was responsible for Central Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. It’s the perfect place to chill out, take a walk in the green atmosphere and even rent a swan-shaped boat for a paddle around the pond.

Fenway Park

The oldest Major League Baseball stadium, Fenway is an atmospheric and unique place to watch a baseball game. Even if the Red Sox are having an off-year, it’s still worth buying a ticket to see a game, as it’s one of the most Bostonian activities you can do. One of the unique features of the 40,000-seat stadium is the “Green Monster”, the 37-foot green wall in the left field. When it’s not baseball season, you can take a tour of the stadium.

Faneuil Hall Market

Since 1742 this market has traded in fresh edible ingredients (可食用材料) and entertainment for Bostonians. There are dozens of stalls selling fruits and veggies as well as ready-to-eat dishes, along with street performers and some of the best people-watching in the city.

Museum of Fine Arts

The city’s main art museum is a good one. With nearly half a million art objects, it’s also one of the biggest museums in North America. There are works on display by the pantheon (名流) of history’s great artists, including Donatello, EI Greco, Renoir and Degas, just to name a few. There is also a nice collection of art and artifacts from Egypt, Nubia and the ancient Americas.

1. What do Boston Public Garden and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park have in common?

A．They are free for the public.	B．They are similar in size.
C．They are designed by the same designer.	D．They are next to Boston Common.

2. Why is Fenway Park special?

A．Its designer is well-known.	B．It is quiet and green.
C．It hosts exciting performances.	D．It is a baseball stadium.

3. What can visitors do in Museum of Fine Arts?

A．See exhibitions of art works.	B．Learn about the history of the city.
C．Have hands-on art activities.	D．Meet world-famous artists.

2 . Public toilets around the globe have a reputation for being dark, dirty and dangerous. Tokyo recently unveiled new restrooms in two public parks that aim to address those concerns. For one thing, they are brightly lit and colorful. For another, they are transparent. This way, those who need to go can check out the cleanliness and safety of the toilets without having to walk inside or touch a thing.

Japan has long experimented with toilets, resulting in lids that open, and close automatically and seats that warm up. But the new toilets—designed by Shigeru Ban, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect—are made out of a “smart glass.”

The toilets were installed in Tokyo in September. Set up in front of a cluster of trees in the Shibuya District, the toilets stand out like a Mondrian painting.

When occupied and locked properly, the colored glass toilets become frosted (磨砂的) and opaque (not transparent). When the door is unlocked, an electric current rearranges the crystals in the glass to allow more light to pass through, creating a transparent effect. The toilets were presented as another futuristic and aesthetically (美学地) pleasing example of the country’s technological advancements.

The predecessor to Tokyo’s transparent toilets appeared in Switzerland in 2002, when designer Olivier Rambert unveiled two glass restrooms in the city of Lausanne. They had a safety feature that automatically opened the doors and turned the glass transparent if sensors detected no motion for 10 minutes. That could possibly help users who fall unconscious and need medical attention.

1. What’s the purpose of the design of new restrooms?

A．To make the parks tourist attractions.

B．To settle the problems with public toilets.

C．To maintain the standards of public toilets.

D．To achieve a breakthrough in toilet construction.

2. How does the “smart glass” function?

A．By cutting off electricity.	B．By giving off colorful light.
C．By sensing the health of people.	D．By changing the order of crystals.

3. What can we learn about the transparent toilets?

A．They cause the concerns about privacy.

B．They are decorated with artists’ paintings.

C．They are pioneered by Japanese architects.

D．They combine technological and artistic elements.

4. Which can best describe the safety feature of glass restrooms in Switzerland?

A．Conventional.	B．Humanized.
C．Simplified.	D．Recreational.

3 . Slowly but surely, offices are beginning to reopen. That means, the work-from-home lifestyle may be coming to a close. Why not spice it up a bit for this last stretch of flexible living and book a killer vacation rental? Here are 4 rentals perfect for you.

San Antonio, Texas

Head deep into the heart of Texas for an enjoyable work-from-home experience at this 3-bedroom Lavaca cottage. And you’ll find a fully private backyard that is perfect for the little ones. The house on its own is excellent, but what is close to downtown San Antonia is like a cherry on top.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Set out for beautiful California and book this beach retreat. You’ll have both the beach and town within walking distance. Charming Carmel has world-class restaurants, art galleries and wine tasting rooms. The beloved treat shop is sure to get your kids on their best behavior!

Scottsdale, Arizona

With over 300 days of sunshine and boundless outdoor activities, Arizona is an outdoor heaven for all ages. Book this massive 5-bedroom desert house, and spend days hiking. Then cool off back at home in your private pool overlooking the mountains. If you’re working from home, you can soak in some pretty evenings and desert sunsets. When you’re not enjoying a barbecue in the backyard, walk into Scottsdale’s modern downtown district for dinner.

The Catskills, New York

Surround yourself with nature while you work-from-home at this quiet and private, 4-acre red cottage in the Catskills region. The charming 2-bedroom house has a huge industrial kitchen, private hot tub and a barbecue. When you have to go back to civilization, the lovable mountain town of Woodstock is just 10 minutes away.

1. Which of the following best suits people who are art lovers?

A．San Antonio.

B．Carmel-by-the-Sea.

C．Scottsdale.

D．The Catskills.

2. What do we know about Scottsdale?

A．It is a good place for outdoor sports.	B．It has few sunny days.
C．It has wine tasting rooms.	D．It is a lovable seaside town.

3. What do the four rentals have in common?

A．They have a private backyard.	B．They are close to the beach.
C．They provide a barbecue.	D．They are near the town or downtown.

4 . 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.

5 . COMOX VALLEY EXHIBITION

Come and experience the many wonders of Comox Valley rural life!

With 40 acres of developed grounds and nature park, the Comox Valley Exhibition is situated on the bank of the Tsolum River in the scenic Comox Valley.

To promote local farming, the exhibition offers three days of fun events for all family members. You can pet a lamb, and watch the diving dogs and many farm animal shows. Check out the demonstrations, enjoy fresh squeezed lemonade, and sit back and enjoy the lumberjack (伐木工) show, carving show and non-stop entertainment.

Exhibition Times

Friday, August 26, 2022－Noon to 7 pm

Saturday, August 27, 2022－10 am to 7 pm

Sunday, August 28, 2022－10 am to 5 pm

Tickets and Pricing

General (18 to 64)－US$10

Seniors (65+)－US$5

Youth &Teens (6 to 17)－US$5

Children under 5－free

Family pass (2 adults & up to 3 youth)－US$25

Note: All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission and Re-entry

All persons MUST have a valid and visible wristband or pass to enter, re-enter or remain on the Exhibition Grounds. Anyone without a valid wristband or pass will be asked to leave the Exhibition Grounds.

Any admission passes or wristbands that have been lost or stolen are to be reported to a CVEX representative for resolution.

Any admission passes or wristbands that are used illegally will not be honored.

1. What can you enjoy at the Comox Valley Exhibition?

A．Squeezing fresh lemons.	B．Having a taste of lamb.
C．Playing with dogs in water.	D．Watching animal shows.

2. How much would a couple with two teens under 16 pay at least for admission?

A．US$20.

B．US$25.

C．US$30.

D．US$35.

3. Who would be most likely to enter the exhibition successfully?

A．Clifford, a teen who wore an invalid wristband of his mother’s.

B．Jacob, a youth who arrived at 6 pm on August 28, 2022 with his mother.

C．Ella, an adult who arrived at 5 pm on August 27, 2022 with a valid pass.

D．Rebecca, an 8-year-old girl who came by herself with a valid wristband.

6 . 语法填空

“The Manuscript Writing Cafe only allows in people who have a writing deadline to meet!” Located in Koenji, Tokyo, the cafe only admits     1     (customer) with writing deadlines to meet.

The cafe charges by time used, with    2     minimum of thirty minutes, and then by the hour with an order of coffee. It    3     (equip) for writing with USB ports, Wi-Fi, and computer stands. The cafe also allows customers     4     (bring) in food and drink and even have it    5     (deliver).

Upon entering the store, write down at the reception desk how many words    6     by what time you are going to write your manuscript. You are not permitted to leave the store until you have finished writing your manuscript or writing project. Writers can also request different levels of verbal pressure     7     staff members to make sure progress is being made.

Once you set your goal, the staff     8     (check) on your progress every hour and ensure that you’re being     9     (product). In the event where you have yet to finish your task when it’s past the cafe’s closing time, you’d be required to pay extension fees,     10     are steeper than the normal hourly rates.

7 . 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.

2. What can we know about Siti Boelen?

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.

3. How does the author describe the floating houses in paragraph 3?

A．By listing figures.	B．By giving examples.
C．By analyzing reasons.	D．By making comparisons.

4. What’s the fourth paragraph mainly about?

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.

8 . 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。

In recent months, the China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou, which exhibits the history and culture of the Grand Canal,     1     (attract) a great number of visitors. Each day, the museum provides 15, 000 tickets     2     visitors to book in advance. They usually sell out on weekends, making the museum     3     popular landmark in East China.

It takes only 20 minutes     4     (get) to the museum by taxi from the Yangzhoudong Railway Station. “My passion     5     (arouse) by those passengers, so I took my children to the museum too. I never knew why it had such great charm     6     I got there.”

The museum,     7     appearance resembles a giant ship, covers 80,000 square meters and houses 14 exhibition halls. While telling its story, the museum puts an     8     (emphasize) on improving visitors’ experience. Young people can take part in a live-action role-play game designed by the museum, transporting them back to the Ming Dynasty, and     9     (immerse) them in an amazing world. “It is     10     (true) a very meaningful experience,” said a visitor surnamed Chen.

9 . Ticketing Information on Hong Kong Science Museum

Regular Admission Fee

Standard tickets: 20 yuan

Group tickets: 14 yuan (special rate of standard tickets for groups of 20 people or more per visit)

Concessionary(优惠的) tickets: 10 yuan(applicable to disabled people with an accompanying minder and senior citizens aged 60 or above)

Free admission for full-time students and children under 4 years old accompanied by an adult with a ticket

Application for Exemption(豁免) from Admission Fee

Kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, universities, charities and non-profit-making organizations arranging group visits of 20 or more visitors can apply for exemption from admission fee. Application should be made at least 2 weeks before the date of visit and will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis subject to availability.

Contact Details

Enquiries for schools: 2732 3220 (please make telephone reservation for the visiting date before sending in the application)

Enquiries for registered charities and non-profit-making organizations: 2732 3268

Attention

Persons buying concessionary tickets may be requested by museum staff to produce a valid document for confirmation of eligibility(合格) . Students must be requested to produce a valid document. If proof of current full-time student status is not shown on the document, museum staff has the right to request the student concerned to pay them for the money of the full ticket.

1. How much should a 65-year-old man pay to visit the museum?

A．10 yuan.

B．14 yuan.

C．20 yuan.

D．60 yuan.

2. Which group can visit the museum for free?

A．12 waiters in a restaurant.	B．15 teachers from a high school.
C．23 people from a local company.	D．26 people working in the Red Cross.

3. What should full-time students bring to visit the museum for free?

A．School reports.	B．Exam papers.
C．Student’s ID cards.	D．Research reports.

10 . Below is a list of the top and leading Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles.

Hoy’s Chinese Restaurant

The restaurant is a family-owned and operated business that has been offering tasty servings in every table. Their family is proud to serve everyone always something like that.

Products/Services: Dim Sum, Vegetarian Menu, Specialty, Seafood

Address: 7105 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Phone: (323)850-6637

Reviews: “They manage their high-level service and the highest level of the food they serve.”—Francis

Phoenix Chinese Cuisine

For more than five decades, it has served tens of thousands of consumers in Los Angeles. The restaurant will not be tired of inviting you to truly experience authentic and remarkable dining.

Products/Services: Seafood. Coconut, Rice Noodle, Chicken Wings

Address: 301 Ord St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: (213) 629-2812

Reviews: “Great place to go eat & the price is fair for the most part. It does get busy at times with all the online food orders.”—Julio

Dragon Chinese Restaurant

The Lees have cooked and served Chinese food for over 40 years, producing delicious Chinese cuisine that wasn’t accessible to the metropolis.

Products/Services: House Specialties, Appetizers, Beef, Seafood, Vegetables

Address: 8597 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Phone: (310) 657-7355

Reviews: “The restaurant is absolutely the tastiest place in the region.”—Tom

Little China Restaurant

It welcomes the customer as if in China, 6 days a week. For customers who do not have any time to go out, you can check out their menu online and order, for pickup and delivery.

Products/Services: Chicken, Pork, Vegetables, Noodle and Rice Dishes, Desserts

Address: 3535 Cahuenga Blvd w # 107, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Phone: (323) 969-8838

Reviews: “Wonderful restaurant, we came here after going to Universal Studios. The prices are super reasonable!”—James

1. If you want to order some seafood for delivery, you can call ________.

A．(323) 850-6637	B．(213) 629-2812
C．(310) 657-7355	D．(323) 969-8838

2. What do Hoy’s Chinese Restaurant and Dragon Chinese Restaurant have in common?

A．The price is fairly low.	B．They are family-run.
C．They provide vegetarian menu.	D．They are in operation for decades.

3. In which section are you likely to read the passage in a magazine?

A．Food.

B．Health.

C．Economy.

D．Entertainment.