1 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?| A．Yellowstone National Park. | B．Joshua Tree National Park. |
| C．Grand Canyon National Park. | D．Virgin Islands National Park. |
| A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there. | B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
| C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter. | D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
| A．Hiking. | B．Skiing. | C．Swimming. | D．Hunting. |
2 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.
Athens, Greece
In Athens, every November temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions — recently it has hosted Picasso’s.
In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.
Huaraz, Peru
To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Lord of the Rings.
April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails (路线) with fewer people.
Edinburgh, UK
Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn, the Little Chartroom. And the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.
Valletta, Malta
Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around £30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 or so and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries — Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.
1. Which place has exhibited Picasso’s works lately?| A．Muza. | B．National Gallery. |
| C．The Museum of Cycladic Art. | D．Scottish National Portrait Gallery. |
| A．Athens. | B．Valletta. | C．Huaraz. | D．Edinburgh. |
| A．It served the Queen of Scotland. | B．It combines ancient and modern styles. |
| C．It has at least eight kinds of rooms. | D．It offers Scottish local specialties. |
3 . London has a lot of famous museums, and the most popular one among them is the Science Museum in London. It is the most friendly museum in London. As is known to all, shouting and running are not allowed in most museums, and touching the exhibits(展品)is also forbidden. But the Science Museum in London is different. It is noisy! People talk about what they can see and do here, and there are some very noisy machines as well. If you want answers to any of your questions about science, this is the right place for you.
In its rooms on the second and third floors, you can learn some knowledge about communications, the environment, maths, physics, chemistry and so on. For example, you can understand how people dig coal(煤)from the ground and use it to create energy. And in one of its rooms, you can also have a chance to know how X-rays let you see inside your body.
The Launchpad on the third floor is the most popular room because you can experience lots of physics experiments in it. For example, if you want to fill a bag with sand, you have to control a kind of truck on wheels and move it into the correct place. You can also find out how people travel into space and back again by spaceship.
On its fourth and fifth floors, you can learn about what medicine was like in the past. Compare the medicine of the past with the medicine of today, and you will feel very lucky to see a doctor in the modern hospitals!
People of all ages can visit the Science Museum in London for free. It's very interesting. You can always find something new to you and have a wonderful time here The museum is open daily from 10 am.to 6 p. m, so you can enjoy yourself here for either a few minutes or a few hours. If you go to London, don't miss the chance to visit the Science Museum.
1. The underlined word “forbidden” in the first paragraph means “________” in Chinese.| A．允许 | B．禁止 | C．欢迎 |
| A．ground | B．coal | C．X-ray |
| A．You can see a doctor in the Science Museum in London. |
| B．There is no need to buy tickets to enter the Science Museum in London. |
| C．You can't have a visit to the Science Museum in London on weekends. |
| A．the introduction of the Science Museum in London |
| B．the history of the Science Museum in London |
| C．the development of the Science Museum in London |
4 . A Journey to the Yosemite Firefall
Each year, thousands of people are attracted to the Yosemite National Park in California for a chance of seeing —and photographing ——the unique “firefall”. The amazing “firefall” comes to life only when there is enough water from the melting（融化）snow to keep the Horsetail Fall flowing and when the light of the setting sun hits the waterfall at the right angle. It can only be seen for a short time in February on clear sunny days.
This year, the weather isn’t stopping the “firefall” from happening, but it is making the journey to see it more difficult.
“What would have been a 10-minute walk turned into a two-hour hike through deep snow,” photographer Ryan Fitzsimons said about his recent trip to see the phenomenon. “Our clothes were all wet by the time we got to a viewing site. But the heavy snow made the sight much more beautiful since the waterfall is much bigger this year.”
Another photographer Andy Heitz was making his first trip to see the “firefall”. He had to wait five hours in the extreme cold for his turn to take a picture.
“I got to the site at about 12:00 at noon. The place was already filled with hundreds of people waiting to see and photograph the ‘firefall’. I was so lucky that I shot a really wonderful burner! I was completely amazed with what I saw,” he said. “You know, only on a couple days of the year in February and when the sun sets down at the perfect angle to shine on Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can we see the ‘Fire Fall’. I’ll never forget what I have seen.’’
The “firefall” should continue to be there from 20 to 24 February. But park officials said that there’s no guarantee（保证）that visitors will see it on any given day.
1. When might be the best time to take pictures of the “firefall”?| A．Early in the morning. | B．At noon. |
| C．Late in the afternoon. | D．At night. |
| A．There wouldn’t be enough snow. | B．It might be too cloudy. |
| C．The waterfall might not freeze. | D．The snow might melt too fast. |
| A．A worker in the kitchen. |
| B．The fire in the Yosemite National Park. |
| C．A part of a cooker or stove. |
| D．The unique Horsetail Fall in the setting sun. |
| A．To introduce an attraction. | B．To give suggestions for a trip. |
| C．To advertise a park in the US. | D．To explain what is a “firefall”. |
5 . I used to travel to make myself relaxed. Two years ago, I was rather busy with my business and under a lot of
When I was on holiday, a(n)
I’d driven alone across the US before, but traveling to other countries whose languages aren’t the same as mine
But I soon
As I was in search of more places to visit on my trip, I found Mykonos, Greece, which I 2
What I appreciated best was the bus ride to Venice. As I rode the bus and enjoyed every new thing I saw, I was completely
Some people might say, “It’s not a big
| A．joy | B．loss | C．pressure | D．pain |
| A．incident | B．idea | C．stranger | D．invitation |
| A．stay | B．research | C．study | D．vacation |
| A．frightened | B．attracted | C．surprised | D．interested |
| A．agree | B．play | C．travel | D．communicate |
| A．responded | B．realized | C．selected | D．suggested |
| A．pride | B．fear | C．anger | D．eagerness |
| A．liked | B．visited | C．doubted | D．explored |
| A．Asia | B．America | C．Europe | D．Africa |
| A．free | B．lost | C．different | D．tired |
| A．nice | B．generous | C．frightening | D．threatening |
| A．castles | B．campus | C．places | D．homeland |
| A．reality | B．deal | C．order | D．ending |
| A．business | B．challenge | C．dream | D．journey |
| A．disappear | B．decrease | C．happen | D．go |
6 . Here are some of the best fall fairs from New England states.
Connecticut: Durham Fair
Dates: September 22-25
The 98th Annual Durham Fair might not be Connecticut’s oldest (that honor goes to the Four Town Fair), but it is the state’s largest. And it has a special focus on kids, making it well worth the two-hour drive from Boston.
The Durham Fair even has a mini-fairground designed especially for children that features activities like a pedal tractor pull and all sorts of games, plus a stage with little animals and magic shows.
Maine: Fryeburg Fair
Dates: October 2-9
The Fryeburg Fair is the farthest away from Boston, but that doesn’t stop people from travelling from all over the country with their kids to experience one of New England’s finest fall fairs. The fair has some unique spins that celebrate what makes Maine special, like Woodsmen’s Field Day with an exciting competition featuring log-rolling, axe-throwing, and tree falling. The fair has all kinds of farm animals, from draft horses to camels.
Massachusetts: Topsfield Fair
Dates: September 30 - October 10
Probably the most well-known fair on the list for Bostonians is the Topsfield Fair, which takes place in our backyard. The origins of this fair go back nearly 200 years ago and it’s truly a classic fall agricultural fair. Topsfield has everything from the rides for children to many farm animals, like pigs, goats, cows, chickens and rabbits.
New Hampshire: Sandwich Fair
Dates: October 8-10
Two hours north of Boston, you will find the Sandwich Fair. Saturday at the fair is Children’s Day, which includes a kid’s pedal tractor pull and Mo the clown. Sunday is Family Day, where you will find a miniature horse demo and the Grand Street Parade. While you are at the fair, hike nearby West Rattlesnake or check out some of the other things to do near Lake Winnipesaukee.
1. What can you do if you go to the Durham Fair?| A．Walk around Connecticut’s oldest fair. |
| B．Drive a pedal tractor for a competition. |
| C．Celebrate Woodsmen’s Field Day. |
| D．Watch some live performances. |
| A．The Durham Fair. |
| B．The Fryeburg Fair. |
| C．The Topsfield Fair. |
| D．The Sandwich Fair. |
| A．They are created for fun. |
| B．They are old fairs in New England. |
| C．They are famous in the United States. |
| D．They are suitable for families with children. |
7 . Travelling with some of your favourite people is an exciting experience. If done well, group travelling can be the most thrilling experience ever, filled with games, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
Ideas are usually exciting when they are fresh. The longer you delay, the more you’ll find excuses not to go. Let all interested parties meet as soon as possible to decide on dates, locations and budget. It’s best to plan the trip three or four months in advance.
Assign roles
For the trip to be successful, it has to be well organized. You’re going on a trip far from home, not the shopping mall. This is why the group should assign a leader who would be responsible for planning and organizing the trip.
Budget pool
Create a flexible itinerary（行程）
An easy way to create and share an itinerary is through Google Docs. Add the group members to the document and give them permission to edit it. Suggest one or two optional activities per day which do not require advance bookings, such as a local hike or museum.
| A．Start early. |
| B．Get fresh ideas. |
| C．So how do you plan for your group trip? |
| D．Collect a set amount from everyone before your trip. |
| E．Don’t forget to create room for something unexpected. |
| F．Also, divide the other responsibilities as they arise so that everyone participates. |
| G．The group leader generally keeps in contact with everyone, handling most of the detailed work. |
8 . Whether you’re travelling to the islands or the mountains of Thailand, you’re likely to spend at least one night in its capital city on the way. Bangkok might be noisy and polluted but it’s also an exciting city with plenty of things to see and do. Why not make it a longer stay?
Where to stay
The Khao San Road was a famous traveller spot even before Leonardo di Caprio’s character in the film The Beach stayed there. But it’s noisy, not very pretty and not very Thai. For something more authentic, Phra Kanong offers an alternative place to stay, with its fantastic street markets where everyday Bangkok people eat, work and live. It’s not as convenient for the main tourist sites, but it has a Skytrain station so you can be at the Grand Palace in 20 minutes.
How to get around
Bangkok’s traffic can be a nightmare. Sure, you can easily take a taxi – if you want to spend hours stuck in traffic jams – but there are two much better ways to get around the city. To explore the temples and historical sites, catch an express boat river taxi or a longtail boat along the Chao Phraya river and the canals. For the modern part of the city, the Skytrain is a fast, cheap way to travel from the river to the shopping malls and nightlife of Sukhumvit, and the famous Chatuchak street market.
Where to eat
The simple answer is: everywhere! Thai street food is among the best in the world, and for around $5 you can eat a filling and delicious meal. Some food stands have little plastic seats where you can sit and eat and they cook the same dish over and over, like fried chicken on rice or Pad Thai noodles. Head for Chinatown – Yaowarat Street – and choose whatever looks most interesting from the many excellent Chinese and Thai restaurants and food stands.
1. Where can you experience local people’s life ?| A．Khao San Road. | B．Phra Kanong. |
| C．Sukhumvit. | D．Yaowarat Street. |
| A．One night is enough time to see Bangkok. |
| B．The river boat taxis often get stuck in traffic too. |
| C．Taking the Skytrain is a faster way to see the city than going by taxi. |
| D．You need to choose where to eat carefully, as not everywhere is good. |
| A．A text book. | B．A science report. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A book review. |
9 . Follow the snow this season and head off for a relaxing skiing holiday to one of the best ski resorts (胜地) in Europe. Whether you are looking for relaxation or something fun for the whole family, this list is guaranteed to get your skis ready for the holidays.
Val Thorens, France
For a classic sporty holiday experience, Val Thorens in the southeast of France is a fantastic pick. You'll get to enjoy 600 kilometres of interconnected runs at an altitude of 2,300 metres, making the ski resort the highest in Europe.
You can enjoy your time going down the snow-covered slopes (斜坡), or try your hand at snowboarding tricks. This place has plenty of non-slope activities as well and the atmosphere is friendly and suitable for families.
Lech, Austria
If you want a traditional ski holiday, then the Alps have a variety of great destinations to pick, with Lech in Austria being one of the best. The quiet ski resort is known for being Princess Diana’s favorite winter holiday location.
The resort has the highest annual snowfall of any European ski destination, so you're almost guaranteed snow. It isn't just the snow you get to enjoy, as there's as election of great bars and restaurants to relax in and take in the history of the location.
Val Gardena, Italy
The Dolomites offers some fantastic scenery and slopes for ski-lovers, and Val Gardena in the Grodner Valley is a beautiful destination. The climate is beautiful and offers plenty of sun and mild termperatures. The region has plenty to do off the slopes as well from tasty restaurants to lively bars.
Verbier, Switzerland
If you want your skiing holiday to come with plenty of nightlife, then Verbier is the resort for you. It isn’t the best location for advanced skiers, but for anyone looking to have a good holiday with all the features of a modern resort, Verbier is your pick. You’ll also get to enjoy world-class food and some fantastic nightclubs, like the Bedouin-inspired nightclub at Hotel Farinet.
1. What makes Lech special?| A．It accommodates various restaurants. |
| B．It is appreciated by a royal member. |
| C．It has a rich and distinctive history. |
| D．It provides a great deal of sunshine. |
| A．Verbier, Switzerland. | B．Val Gardena, Italy. |
| C．Lech, Austria. | D．Val Thorens, France. |
| A．Restaurant owners. | B．Geology sclolars. |
| C．ski enthusiasts. | D．Travel agents. |
The Xi’an City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived China’s long history. It
We accessed the wall through the South Gate. The wall is 12 meters high and from here you can see streams of people moving inside and outside the City Wall.
After
We
