At one time, people used to travel to foreign countries because they thought the building, the food, the national dress there would be different from home. Nowadays, however, one large city is very like another. They all have their Hilton or Sheraton Hotels which look like Hilton or Sheraton Hotels everywhere. They all have their McDonald’s, their KFCs, their Pizza Huts. Office buildings look the same everywhere, and most city centers are full of office buildings. And, of course, people are driving the same brands of Japanese or European cars, usually wearing the same kinds of clothing and watching the same American movies and TV shows. Airports are the same everywhere and the world’s airlines are all flying the same aircraft, Boeings or Airbuses.
What, therefore, is the purpose of foreign travel for people who are not on business? What do tourists hope to experience in a foreign country that they cannot experience at home? Why do they travel to foreign countries at all? The answer could be that people are very interested in the past. It is a nation’s history that is its main attraction. Most of today’s tourists travel overseas to find out what foreign countries and cultures used to be like, not what they are like today. The words “cultural tourism” are now part of the language of tourism, and it is the museums and works of art in many countries that are their main attractions.
If they are lucky many countries also usually have at least a few beautiful places for tourists to visit.
Finally there is perhaps a nation’s greatest attraction: its people. A nation is not just its historical buildings, its works of art or beautiful places, and it is also the people who live in it. This is why a country such as Thailand attracts millions of people every year. They come mainly because of the friendliness of the Thai people, and it is why the Pacific Islands are also so popular. There may not be much to see or do in Fiji, but there are lots of friendly, smiling people to make visitors feel welcome.
1.The passage is mainly about __________.
A. the importance of tourism B. different foreign cultures
C. how to plan an overseas trip D. why people travel to foreign countries
2.The writer thinks that large cities in foreign countries __________.
A. are similar to one another B. share the same aircraft
C. do not have good hotels D. do not offer a warm service to foreigners
3.The writer believes that many tourists are interested in foreign ________.
A. hotels B. history C. cars D. programs
Catherine Destivelle is a rock star. She loves rock, but she can’t sing or play the guitar! She is a rock climber and a big star in France and Italy. She is the most famous woman climber in the world because she often climbs without ropes. She climbs in many countries but most often in the French Alps near Chamonix, where she lives. She started climbing near her home in Paris when she was five. Then, at fourteen, she joined the French Alpine Club to learn more, but immediately she climbed better and more quickly than the older members of the club. She won her first competition in Italy in 1995.
Three years ago she found a new route up the Dru Mountain near Chamonix. The climb took eleven days and for four days the snow was so heavy that she could not move. Last year other climbers tried to follow the new Destivelle Route, but they failed. They are going to try again this year.
People always ask her about her climbing. She says, “I climb because I’m in love with mountains. I like touching the rock and reading the face of the rock. I like it a lot. I felt at home on the side of a mountain. I prepare well before I go, so I’m never worried.”
Catherine chooses new mountains from books—like buying from a shopping catalogue(目录)! “I see a nice mountain and I go to climb it!” Her next mountain is in Pakistan. She is going there next month. “It’s much bigger than the Dru, so it’s going to take longer to climb. An American climber, Jeff Lowe, is coming with me to help.”
1.Catherine Destivelle is called ‘a star’ because ________.
A. she won a competition in 1995 B. she loves rocks
C. she’s a famous woman climber D. she found a new route up to the Dru Mountain
2.She had great trouble finding a new route up the Dru Mountain because _______.
A. she lost her way B. the climb took 11 days
C. she needed help from an American climber D. there was heavy snow
3.On the side
of a mountain she feels _______.
A. independent B. easy and happy C. energetic and challenged D. nervous
4.We can infer from the passage people often ask her “________”.
A. Why do you like climbing? B. Are you in love with an American climber?
C. Do you enjoy reading books on mountains? D. What do you do before you go climbing?
Britain’s oldest man made his first visit to London yesterday at the age of 101. Mr John Evans, who spent 60 years working as a miner in South Wales, had never found the time or money to make the trip from his home in Forest–fach, near Swansea. “There was a trip to the White City, but it was ten shillings’ return from Swansea—too much I thought. All my money went to the family then,” he said. But when British Rail offered him an all–expense–paid birthday gift to the capital, he just could not refuse.
He arrived at Paddington Station in his best suit, favorite Panama hat and a red rose in his buttonhole. “It’s very exciting. There’s no doubt about it,” he said.
Until yesterday he had never been far from home. “But I’ve been on the seas to that faraway land called Fracombe 21 miles from home,” he joked. During the next two days Mr Evans will be taken on a short tour of London to see the sights. Top of his list is a visit to the House of Parliament.
The only arrangement he does not like is the wheelchair provided for him if he gets tired. “I don’t like the chair—people will think I am getting old,” he said. His secret for a long and healthy life has been well publicized—no wine, no tobacco and no anger.
Before setting off from Swansea with his 76–year–old son, he said jokingly, “I’m glad to see they’ve given me a return ticket.”
1.Mr. Evans didn’t go to see the world because he .
A. had already been on the seas to Fracombe B. was too busy to go too far away from home
C. couldn’t afford both the time and money D. believed “East or west, home is the best”
2. Mr Evans didn’t like the wheelchair because .
A. he was not used to traveling in it
B. the wheelchair was not easy to operate
C. he preferred walking to sitting in it at home
D. he thought he was still young enough to manage the trip
3.The probable explanation to Mr Evans’ long life lies in .
A. his good living habits B. his hard working for the family
C. his sticking to his hometown D. his living conditions near the Swansea
It is interesting how NASA(美国航天航空局) chose their astronauts for landing them on the moon. They chose men 36 the ages of twenty and thirty-five. There were about fifty of them. Some were 37 air pilots, and 38 were scientists with two or three degrees. NASA telephoned each man they were going to choose, told him the plans and the 39 they might get into. They then asked him if he was willing to be trained as an astronaut, “How could any man 40 such an exciting job?” One of them said, “Dangerous? Of course. It’s dangerous 41 most exciting.”
The health and physical condition of the people was, 42 , very necessary. Only those in very good health and physical condition were 43 .
While being trained to be astronauts, they went through many 44 . They studied the star and the moon, and they also studied geology, the science of rocks. This was necessary 45 astronauts would have to look for rocks on the moon. They would try to find rocks which might help to tell the 46 of the moon. They were all 47 to fly in helicopters. There helicopters landed straight down to give them some 48 of the way the spaceship would actually land on the 49 . They were also taught the known facts about the 50 in space. They learnt about all the scientists and engineers who 51 spaceships. They visited the 52 where spaceships were repaired. They learnt how every 53 of a spaceship and its instruments work. They also learnt every detail of ground-control 54 .
In a word, to be chosen as astronaut, one must be in good 55 , well-informed in science and good at piloting.
1.A. at B. between C. of D. on
2.A. experienced B. old C. handsome D. retired
3.A. none B. few C. others D. both
4.A. dangers B. sadness C. reality D. protection
5.A. share B. treat C. offer D. refuse
6.A. but B. if C. though D. when
7.A. in all B. of course C. so far D. at last
8.A. noticed B. chosen C. praised D. examined
9.A. jobs B. places C. courses D. ways
10.A. so B. because C. as if D. even though
11.A. size B. scene C. age D. name
12. A. shown B. trained C. told D. allowed
13.A. advice B. experience C. surprise D. thought
14. A. water B. rock C. moon D. earth
15.A. secrets B. traditions C. theories D. conditions
16.A. drew B. developed C. designed D. discovered
17.A. offices B. shops C. colleges D. factories
18.A. part B. movement C. step D. body
19.A. method B. difficulty C. system D. trick
20. A. shape B. position C. order D. health
John _____ such a thing about you. He never speaks ill of you behind your back.
A. can’ t have said B. might not say C. couldn’ t say D. mustn’ t have said
The number of the people who _______ cars ______ increasing in China.
A. own, are B. owns, is C. own, is D. owns, are
