1 . French officials are preparing to offer flying taxi services to people attending the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. If the taxis are actually used in the French capital, it could mark the first major real world show of the flying technology.

Some air taxi developers attended the recent Paris Air Show to show off their products and seek industry support. One of the companies in attendance was Germany’s Volocopter, which plans to offer a flying taxi service during the Olympics.

But so far, no air taxi maker has received government permission to launch service in France. Volocopter hopes to be the first. But the company still needs to run its aircraft through rigorous weather tests and provide thousands of pages of documentation to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Company chief Dirk Hoke said that in addition to worries about government approvals, air taxi companies have also faced difficulties linked to economic slowdowns affecting the world. Robin Riedel, who co-leads the Center for Future Mobility at the business advisory company McKinsey, said companies formed to support air taxi projects have lost about 30 percent of their value in recent years. In addition, many investors(投资人) have decided to put money into drones(无人机) instead of flying taxis.

Hoke has thought about a person he would like to be the first rider of his flying taxis-French President Emmanuel Macron. “That would be super amazing,”Hoke said, “That would be a strong sign to Europe to see the president flying.”

In the beginning, air taxi trips are likely to be short and costly. This is because current battery technology limits the distance and number of paying passengers the aircraft can carry. The long-term success of air taxis will also be dependent on effective systems to manage all the air traffic using the skies. Experts say such systems will need new technology to provide safety for all flyers. As the industry progresses, the number of air taxis is expected to reach into the millions.

1. What does the underlined word “rigorous” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Strict.

B．Simple.

C．Creative.

D．Similar.

2. Why does Hoke want Macron to be the first to take the air taxi?

A．To secure the president’s investment.

B．To welcome the Paris Summer Olympics.

C．To increase public trust in air taxis.

D．To get government approval more quickly.

3. What probably make air taxi trips short and costly at present?

A．Crowded roads.	B．Limitations of batteries.
C．Investors’ requirements.	D．The government’s decisions.

4. What is important for the long-term success of air taxis?

A．The rapid development of drones.

B．An industry report to ensure safety.

C．The strong support from French officials.

D．A good system for managing all air traffic.

2 . To see the future of high-speed railways, you need to go to China.

At the beginning of the 21st century, China had no high-speed railways. Slow and often uncomfortable trains ran across this vast country, with low average speeds making journeys such as Shanghai-Beijing a test of travel endurance (忍耐力). Today, it’s a completely different picture. The populous nation has the world’s largest network of high-speed railways.

With the highest speed of 350 kph on many lines, intercity travel has been completely changed and the dominance (主导地位) of airlines has been broken on the busiest routes. China’s ambition is to make high-speed rail the popular choice for domestic long-distance travel, but these new railways have a much great importance. They are a symbol of the country’s economic power, rapid modernization, growing technological skills and increasing prosperity (繁荣).

It’s hard not to be impressed by the size of some of the new stations, and by the efficiency (效率) with which the system moves vast numbers of people, all with a booked seat and increasingly without the need for paper tickets, just a scan of an ID card at the ticket gates.

Not satisfied with pushing the boundaries of speed, endurance and civil engineering, Chinese companies are among the first in the world to introduce new technology such as autonomous (driverless) train operation and advanced signaling and control technology.

The driverless “bullet trains” connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou in northern Hebei Province are capable of hitting speeds up to 350 kph, making them the world’s fastest autonomous trains.

1. What can we know about Chinese railway in the past?

A．It was comfortable and convenient.

B．It was slow and terrible for travelers.

C．It was faster than any other country’s railway.

D．It was the largest railway network in the world.

2. Which is not the benefits that high-speed railways bring?

A．They promote local prosperity.

B．They “shorten”the distance between cities.

C．They show the country’s economic power.

D．They take the place of the airlines.

3. What does the author want to tell us by saying “just a scan of an ID card” in paragraph 4?

A．To show the importance of an ID card.

B．To explain the way of entering ticket gates.

C．To prove the convenience of taking high-speed rail.

D．To introduce the usage of an ID card in high-speed rail transport.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．The development of Chinese high-speed railways.

B．The significance of Chinese high-speed railways.

C．The future of Chinese high-speed railways.

D．The speed of Chinese high-speed railways.

3 . Slow down and take some time to explore the world and nourish your soul and brain by traveling.

Little Trains of the Pyrenees

Eight days from £1,049 per person—from May to September 2022

Enjoy the slow journey on the incredible Roses Express. Step aboard the Yellow Train in the Pyrenees. Travel in style on the Núria Valley Rack Railway. Relax on board the Red Train in the Pyrenees.

Includes

● Return by Eurostar from London to Paris

● Seven nights’ half board accommodation in Roses

Please note

The deposit (订金) of the room: £275

Scottish Highland Railways

Five days from £576 per person—from April to October 2022

Experience some of the world’s most spectacular scenery as you enjoy journeys on three of Scotland’s most celebrated railways.

Includes

● Four nights’ dinner and bed, and Scottish breakfast accommodation at the Carrbridge Hotel

● Return flights to Scotland

Lake Como, St. Moritz & the Bernina Express

Eight days from £959 per person—from May to October 2022

Take one of the world’s great railway journeys to Switzerland’s most celebrated holiday hideaway. Spend a week on the shores of Lake Como and enjoy its elegant villas and glorious gardens—which have inspired artists and writers for generations.

Includes

● Seven nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel

● A ride on the Bernina Express

● Return flights to Milan

● Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout

1. How much does a couple pay at most for a journey to the Pyrenees?

A．£2,648.

B．£1,918.

C．£1,427.

D．£2,373.

2. Which place is most suitable for a writer lacking inspiration?

A．The Carrbridge Hotel.	B．The Núria Valley Rack Railway.
C．The Bernina Express to St. Moritz.	D．Villas and gardens near Lake Como.

3. What do the journeys have in common?

A．They are all available in October.	B．They all design train-riding trips.
C．They all provide free accommodation.	D．They all include air tickets to the destination.

4 . The UK’s best cycling holidays

Cycling (骑车) holidays in the UK are one of the best things you can do with friends or as a family. We have researched the best routes (路线) for the perfect cycling holiday on TripAdvisor.

Camel Trail

This 27.8km route is not only flat, but is home to some breathtaking views of the coast and camping sites. With the highest number of excellent reviews on TripAdvisor and 96% traffic free, we’re certain you’ll have a great time. It follows alongside sandy beaches and villages meaning there’s lots to discover, just check out the 33,000 Instagram posts!

Tissington Trail

One hundred per-cent traffic free, the Tissington Trail is 21.3 km long making it a safe and simple trip. It follows a railway line with old station platforms. Only a 25-minute drive to Alton Towers for a bit of added fun, this holiday is packed with plenty to do. There’re also over 300 excellent TripAdvisor reviews, proving its popularity with UK tourists.

Marriott’s Way

The Marriott’s Way is another long-distance cycle. Perfect for cycling through Norfolk’s woodlands, it also passes through beautiful small towns and villages. The Marriott’s Way has the steepest (陡峭的) cycling trail out of the four cycling holidays, so may be best for those riding fans.

Lagan Towpath

To explore Northern Ireland’s beauty, this path takes you along the river and canal system. It is the second trail on this list that is 100% traffic free, so you’ll only meet other cyclists and walkers, making it one of the safest routes. Spend a day or two in capital Belfast before starting the 21.5km bike ride.

1. Which of the following is the most popular?

A．Camel Trail.

B．Tissington Trail.

C．Marriott’s Way.

D．Lagan Towpath.

2. What is special about Marriott’s Way?

A．It is a long cycling trail.

B．It is the most challenging.

C．It attracts riders for camping.

D．It goes through villages.

3. What do Tissington Trail and Lagan Towpath have in common?

A．They run along the rivers.

B．There are no cars.

C．They are near the capital.

D．There are historical sights.

5 . 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，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

China’s first self-driving bus project officially landed in Yongchuan, in Southwest China’s Chongqing, a milestone for China’s commercialization of autonomous driving technology.     1    (develop) by Baidu, Robobus is 5.9 meters long. As a self-driving bus intended for urban open roads, the bus would stop by     2    (it), deal with complex urban road conditions and fully meet     3     needs of normal bus operation.

Robobus     4    (equip ) with four radars (雷达), two millimeter-wave radars, and several cameras to help it collect various live information while     5    (drive). The bus can receive real-time data on all traffic movements including pedestrians (行人), cars and other vehicles on the road, as well as considering blind area,     6     are invisible (看不见的) to the driver’s view. The two-way bus route is about 10 kilometers.

On the inner screen, the traffic light changes and waiting time are forecast     7     advance, allowing vehicles to make decisions     8    (accurate) and plan ahead of time, improving traffic efficiency. Passengers can book a ride on the bus through different mobile phone     9    (apply) such as Baidu Map and Yongchuan Public Service.

According to a report, China has the potential to become the world’s     10    (large )market for autonomous vehicles.