2 . Sri Lanka is a beautiful island nation best seen slowly, even if you have only four days there like I did.

The train in the country was my preferred means of transport (交通方式). My ticket, from Colombo to Kandy, with comfortable seats and a big picture window, cost $19 for the 2.5 hours ride. I got a second-class seat on the Kandy-to-Ella route (路线) and paid about $ 22 for the nearly seven-hour trip through the green hills and tea gardens of central Sri Lanka.

Gentle rain said hello to us as we entered Kandy. The Gamage family in William Gopallawa Mawatha Street hosted (招待) me. The lovely family, including parents, children and other family members, put me up for two nights in their home for $13 every night. My room was basic but comfortable, and came with a delicious breakfast spread every morning. Mrs. Gamage told me I could easily find someone in a tuk-tuk(三轮摩的) to show me around town.

When I found Santha, a small, middle-aged man with a big smile, the next day, we quickly agreed on a price for a tour of the city: just $15. His tuk-tuk moved uphill slowly toward Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya Buddhist Temple. The warm driver also took me to the Royal Botanic Gardens, a peaceful place away from the traffic and noise of the town.

The next morning, I got on a bright blue train to Ella. Ella Station isn’t far from the Sunnyside Holiday Bungalow, where I had booked a room for about $40 every night. The owners are nice and the hotel with gardens is beautiful.

My first morning in Ella, I visited the Nine Arch Bridge, a beautiful old railway bridge. In the afternoon, it started to rain heavily. I walked into a restaurant which sits atop a hill and provides a breathtaking view (风景) of the countryside. An hour later, the rain let up. And I set out to go for a long walk in Little Adam’s Peak. I loved the view of low-lying clouds resting gently on what seemed like an endless series of green hills.

1. Which shows the author's travel route in SriLanka?

A．Colombo → Ella → Kandy.	B．Kandy → Colombo → Ella.
C．Colombo → Kandy → Ella.	D．Kandy → Ella → Colombo .

2. How much did the author pay for his host family in Kandy?

A．13 dollars.	B．26 dollars.
C．41 dollars.	D．80 dollars.

3. What does the author think of the people he met in Sri Lanka?

A．They are kind.	B．They are talkative.
C．They are humorous.	D．They are hard-working.

4. What did the author do in Ella in the afternoon?

A．He toured the town.	B．He stayed in the hotel.
C．He visited an old railway bridge.	D．He enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

3 . I was lucky on the first night of the trip, because I had an empty seat next to me. But I found out this wasn’t the best solution for sleeping. I woke up early and kept a journal.

I was excited to see Chicago. I had never been there before and didn't really know what to expect. l was also looking forward to finding somewhere to take a shower. I wouldn't recommend trying to shave (刮胡子) on the train, Even holding a toothbrush by your face could be dangerous with the constant movement of the train, let alone a razor(剃刀).

We had one last stop before Chicago, and I remembered hopping（跳跃）on the platform for a few minutes. It was cold! I was on my way to Cali, and figured I wouldn't need too many warm clothes. Brilliant. I had one hoodie (连帽上衣) and was wearing it for most of the trip. We got on the train and soon things changed from the scenery along the Great Lakes, into a more urban area. On the train, you aren’t presented with “Welcome to...” signs for different cities and towns. You get to see parts of them that aren’t cleaned up and beautified for your view. You get to go to the areas that aren't so pretty, and that’s another reason why I loved the experience.

We rolled past alleys, streets, and soon enough, a lot of other trains. Chicago seems to be quite busy. The amount of tracks and signals was amazing. The sun was rising when we rolled into Union Station's platform. The entire platform is inside a big “garage” for the trains. I grabbed my luggage and made my way inside the station. The architecture of Union Station was really amazing.

1. Why did the author think he was lucky?

A．Because he woke up early.

B．Because he kept a journal.

C．Because he had enough room to sleep.

D．Because he found the best solution for sleeping-

2. What can we know from Paragraph 2?

A．The author wanted to have a swim.

B．The author knew what he would see.

C．Holding a toothbrush by your face is exciting.

D．Shaving on the train is dangerous.

3. Why did the author hop on the platform for a few minutes?

A．He wanted to do some exercise.	B．He wanted to see inside the train.
C．He wanted to warm himself up.	D．He wanted to see the signs clearly.

4. When did the author reach the Union Station?

A．In the morning.	B．At noon.
C．In the evening.	D．At night.

4 . Lizzie’s diary from Antarctica(南极洲)

Day 3: Tuesday     December 2

We planned to go to Rothera that morning. We’d be staying there for the next two weeks. Because Antarctica is the windiest place on earth, sometimes you can’t fly at all.

We had a nervous wait over breakfast to find out if we’d be leaving that day. People have to stay in Stanley for weeks while the pilots wait for good weather.

It turned clear at 9:30 and we took off at 10:30 on a little red plane called Dash-7.But even when we were in the air, there was still a chance we wouldn’t be able to fly the whole day.

Day 4: Wednesday     December 3

After waking up in the Antarctica for the first time today I can understand why everybody who comes here falls in love with the place. It is really beautiful.

We’re staying at Rothera Survey base with mountains of ice all around. It is very cold, but the regulars( 常客)here are often seen walking around in T-shirts!

Day 5: Thursday   December 4

I woke up to another beautiful sunny day here in the Antarctic. I’m told it’s a bit colder today, but it’s not very windy so it feels warmer. Those of us who are new to the base have to do a special training course before we’re allowed to go off base to other stations or to go snowboarding over the nearby hill.

Day 7:   Saturday   December 6

Not a cloud in the sky and it’s warm enough to sit outside (in a jacket).

The most amazing thing about this place is how the scenery(风景) changes every day.

At first I thought I was going mad. I’d step outside in the morning and think, “I’m sure that big mountain of ice wasn’t there yesterday.” It’s because the sea ice is always moving---slowly thankfully!

1. When did Lizzie sit outside wearing a jacket?

A．On Tuesday	B．On Wednesday
C．On Thursday	D．On Saturday

2. What could stop Lizzie from leaving Stanley for Rothera?

A．Strong winds	B．Thick clouds
C．Mountains of ice	D．Low temperature

3. How did Lizzie feel during her stay in the Antarctic?

A．Afraid

B．Nervous

C．Amazed

D．Bored

5 . A day away from the stress of city life!

A perfect experience for nature lovers!

Our One — Day tour will take you to see the most beautiful sunset and sunrise at the top of Mt. Huangshan （Yellow Mountain）.

Schedule

Early in the morning: take the cable car to the top of the mountain to see the breathtaking sunrise at Cloud Dispelling Pavilion.

Late in the morning: Visit such famous places as the Sixinfeng Peak, the Black Tiger pine tree, the Writing Brush Peak or the Xihai Scenic Area.

At noon: have a traditional Chinese lunch at a hotel on the top of the mountain.

In the afternoon: go to the city centre of Huangshan and take a walk along Tunxi Old Street, where traditional old buildings line the quiet street.

In the evening :Return to the Cloud Dispelling Pavillion to enjoy the sunset.

Price:$327

What's included

Professional and friendly English-speaking tour guide; Breakfast, lunch, dinner; All entrance fees; Cable car fees to and from the Cloud Dispelling Pavillion; Two nights at Beihai hotel or similar standard hotels; Hotel pickup and drop-off.

What's not included

Expenses to and from Mt. Huangshan;

Local Chinese-speaking tour guide;

Other attractions not included in the schedule.

1. Where should the tourists go to see the sunset and sunrise?

A．Sixinfeng Peak.	B．Xihai Scenic Area.
C．Cloud Dispelling Pavilion.	D．Writing Brush Peak.

2. When will the tourists go to Tunxi Old Street?

A．In the morning.

B．At noon.

C．In the afternoon.

D．In the evening.

3. This one-day tour is most probably suitable for        .

A．the British

B．the Chinese

C．the Dutch

D．the Germans

6 . The important things to consider when planning a multi-generational holiday trip

Take the whole family to a beach or a mountain, forming holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Whether those memories are pleasant or not will depend on a lot of things, but the one you can control most is how well you plan the trip. Multi-generational travel is different from planning for just yourself or your family.     1    

Perhaps your family is happy to have one person take control. But you may have newer family members who consider vacation planning a more collective experience. If that’s the case, you need to make sure they feel like they had some input in the process, or you won’t get much participation.     2    

Holiday resorts are likely a better choice than a big house or hotels, both because they offer separate condos (公寓式旅馆) where people can operate on their own schedules and because they offer activities, meals, and other entertainment (消遣) you won’t have to plan. Condos also often come with kitchens, if you do feel like having dinner at home a couple of times.     3     You might not want to share a hotel room with your brother and his wife, for example. But sharing a two-bedroom condo--which is usually about the same price — just feels like being roommates.

So finding a resort with activities that fit as many people’s interests as possible is key.     4     Your cousins may prefer doing food tours. Your father-in-law may just want a big pool. Regardless of what your family enjoys, think about everyone’s interest—or at least what you know of them—and find a place that has as many as possible.

    5     Even if you’re leading the trip planning, leave group-activity planning to the people who want to do it as they’ll have the most drive and motivation (动机) to make it happen. Don’t force anyone into doing activities they aren’t interested in doing. So once you’re there, try your best to have a good time with them.

A．You may be a big diver.

B．Childcare on vacation is a big one.

C．The point of this whole thing is to have fun.

D．Making food for that many people is difficult.

E．And multi-bedroom setups allow for the less cost.

F．You’ve got all sorts of things to consider for a large group of people.

G．So making sure everyone’s planning styles are respected is an important early step.

7 . Many wealthy and well­traveled people want a completely new experience, but they don't necessarily want to give up luxury (奢华的) accommodations and service. The following vacations could be best choices.

Cruise down the Amazon River

Aqua Expeditions takes up to 32 passengers at a time on guided journeys of three, four, or seven days down the Amazon River. Those adventurers see forests and waterfalls, visit local fish markets, and take canoe trips. They also take in wildlife such as capuchin monkeys and river dolphins.

Go Glamping in Montana

The Resort at Paws Up located on a cattle ranch(牧场) is a standout in the type. The ranch rents homes with up to four bedrooms, but it's the luxury tents that offer closer communion with the outdoors. Tents are arranged into camps, each of which has a private chef and butler, the latter of whom helps build campfires and arrange daytime activities. Guests can participate in a cattle drive, go clay shooting, take a hot air balloon trip, or ride horses.

Climb inside a Volcano in Iceland

Iceland is famous for its volcanoes and has plenty of luxury hotel options. Thrill­seekers can actually go down into the dormant (休眠的), 700­foot­deep Thrihnukagigur, by using an open elevator. Take a helicopter if you want to skip the 2­mile hike to the volcano, and arrange a private tour to avoid crowds. And visitors traveling there can enjoy the luxury hotel such as the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel and the Hotel Rangá.

1. What can adventurers do when traveling down the Amazon River?

A．Enjoy individually­ guided tours.

B．Travel with hot air balloons.

C．Get a chance to see wildlife.

D．Ride horses along the trail.

2. At which place can guests enjoy food quite to their taste?

A．Aqua Expeditions.

B．The Resort at Paws Up.

C．Thrihnukagigur.

D．The Hotel Rangá.

3. What do the three vacations have in common?

A．They are adventurous.

B．They are animal­centered.

C．They have luxury hotel options.

D．They are intended for new travelers.

8 . Travel blogging (博客) is a journal that the whole world can read and it is the main reason behind me for setting up my own travel blog.     1     Nowadays everyone is writing about their travels. Here are seven reasons why you should join the army and get writing.

Remember your trip. The biggest advantage of having a travel blog is providing you with a great way to remember your trip.     2     But writing online means you can type it up, including photos and you can keep your memories forever.

    3     If you keep it basic, having a travel blog won’t cost you anything. However, if you want to develop your blog, it may cost you more such as paying for hosting. There are a lot of free blog hosting platforms out there including Wordpress and Blogger that are worth trying and they won’t cost you a dollar.

    4     It can often take a lot of effort to stay in touch with those hundreds of people you met backpacking (徒步旅行) on your travels. But with all the social media platforms around these days it is certainly a lot easier. Alongside this, if you have your own travel blog, it means you are regularly updating (更新) your adventures online with all your friends.

Inspire others.     5     Along the way you will get to meet so many people who will thank you for inspiring them to take that first trip away from home or you may have encouraged a recent graduate to save enough money to backpack through Asia.

A．It doesn’t cost you anything.

B．Earn some money through blogging.

C．Many people want to be inspired by others.

D．Keep in touch with those you met on the road.

E．I set up Sophie’s Suitcase for both my friends and family to read.

F．The biggest enjoyment for many bloggers is inspiring other people.

G．Much like a travel journal, it enables you to record the best memories of your travels.

9 . General Airport Tips
Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will reduce the stress of the flight. If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a meal before the flight.
Flight Delays
Find out why your flight is delayed. Call the free call numbers. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays. If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion （怀疑） and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same air-line or a competing one. This is called "Rule 240", and all airlines are required to do it. Use the lingo （行话）; ask, "Can you 240 me?" when speaking with an agent. They will know what you mean.
Flight Cancellations （取消）
If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination（目的地）. Usually, air-line officials will try to book everyone on their next flight out. Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it. If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system you can make your choices based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions, as they often affect flight schedules.
Getting bumped （不能登机）
To avoid getting bumped, you must be at the loading gate at least 10 minutes ahead of scheduled departure（离开） for a U.S. Flight, 20 minutes to /from Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico and 30 to/ from all other international points. You must be at the loading gate, not the airport entrance.
1. By arriving at the airport earlier, one can _______.

A．get on the airplane immediately

B．reduce the pressure of the flight

C．have a good rest in the airplane

D．buy what he wants in the airport

2. If a person calls "Rule 240", he wants to _______.

A．make sure the time for the next plane

B．get a ticket for the next flight

C．know if other flights are also delayed

D．ask about the reason for the plane delay

3. After a flight cancellation, you can_______.

A．arrive at your destination on time

B．be put on a competitor’s flight

C．make sure the weather is quite fine

D．reserve the next flight to your destination

4. People heading for Germany must be at the loading gate at least__________.

A．40 minutes ahead of time.

B．30 minutes ahead of time.

C．20 minutes ahead of time.

D．10 minutes ahead of time.