In summer, some people avoid outdoor activities because they don't want to get hot and sticky or sun burnt.Luckily, there are some outdoor activities which don't involve breaking sweat. River rafting Hot summer weather and cool water-what a perfect match! River rafting can be both scenic and exciting.When the raft follows a gentle stream, the views of the countryside or valley is like a traditional Chinese painting.And when you enter white water where the riverbed creates a natural roller coaster, you feel a rush of adrenaline  .Paddle your raft to the riverbank to have a picnic or barbecue which will taste best when you are starving. Where to find: River rafting trips are usually on offer in mountainous or valley regions such as the Three Gorges. Tips: Wear a helmet and life jacket at all times; bring enough sunscreen; and bring lots of water. Caving People say that the only naturally air-conditioned place in summer is a big cave.It is true.Cave tours featuring light shows are .Now it's time to wear a lamp on your helmet like a mineworker to explore caves in darkness.Exploring unknown caverns and navigating underground rivers is what makes caving so thrilling.Plus, caving can be a very healthy sport, for the oxygen level is usually higher so basically you are having an oxygen spa as the bonus. Where to find: caving can be very risky, so consult local travel agents and go in groups with professional cavers. Tips: Follow your guides; drink enough water to avoid dehydration  ; and wear strong and not easily damaged hiking boots. Coastal walking/cycling and beach activities For those who live far away from mountains, coastal regions and beaches are good places to spend time in the summer.With sea breezes in your hair, it is nice to take a hike or cycle ride while enjoying the coastline.If you want to be sportier, try beach games, such as soccer and volleyball.It's a totally different experience from playing on hard courts or grass. Where to find: Just go to the beach or find an urban artificial beach such as the... Helen lives in a big city, where is the best place for her to spend weekends? A) A riverbank. B) Underground rivers. C) An urban artificial beach. D) Mountainous areas.
C
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Here is the tour that's voted "3rdbest tour in London" on the Best Things to Do-TripAdvisor! Hairy Goat is the best and most original tour company in London. Do you like walking around a city and discovering something that makes a great photo? London is full of interesting photo chances and maybe you need someone to lead you to them.The tour is perfect for team events,families,groups of friends and school or college classes. Bring A fully charged camera and plenty of memory cards or film,a drink and wear comfortable walking shoes.Dress for three hours' walking outside. Price PS45 per adult (18yrs and over),PS40 per child (12-15yrs) and full-time students (student ID required).Some tours to be booked and paid in advance.Please call or email for details.Please follow the links on the website or call Corinna at +44(0)7540832771. Meet in front of the Royal Exchange Building at Bank Underground Station.Take Exit 3 or 4 from the underground station. When See the website for scheduled dates. Duration Three hours,at a comfortable walking pace. Finish By an underground station within the city.Location varies daily. According to the passage,the tour. A) is intended for individuals only B) offers chances to take great photos C) has been voted the best tour in London three times D) takes three hours on a sightseeing vehicle
B
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The other day an acquaintance of mine, an outgoing and charming man, told me he had found himself unexpectedly alone in New York for an hour or two between appointments. He went to the Whitney and spent the "empty" time looking at things in solitary  happiness. For him it proved to be a shock nearly as great as falling in love to discover that he could enjoy himself so much alone. What had he been afraid of, I asked myself? That, suddenly alone, he would discover that he bored himself, or that there was, quite simply, no self there to meet? But having taken a decisive step, he is now on the edge of adventure; he is about to be launched into his own inner space to the astronaut.  His every perception  will come to him with a new freshness and, for a time, seem surprisingly original. For anyone who can see things for himself with a naked eye becomes, for a moment or two, something of a genius.  With another human being present, vision becomes double vision, unavoidably. We are busy wondering, what does my companion see or think of this, and what do I think of it? The original impact gets lost. "Music I heard with you was more than music." Exactly. And therefore music itself can only be heard alone. Solitude  is the salt of personhood. It brings out the authentic flavor of every experience. "Alone one is never lonely: the spirit adventures, walking in a quiet garden, in a cool house, staying single there." Loneliness is very strongly felt with other people, for with others, even with a lover sometimes, we suffer from our differences of taste, temperament and mood. Human intercourse  often demands that we soften the edge of perception, or withdraw at the very instant of personal truth for fear of hurting, or of being inappropriately present, which is to say naked, in a social situation. Alone we can afford to be wholly whatever we are, and to feel whatever we feel  ly. That is a great luxury! For me the most interesting thing about a solitary life, and mine has been that for the last twenty years, is that it... To the writer, a solitary life is a kind of   _  . A) sacrifice B) dream C) reward D) challenge
C
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Walking down any of Shanghai's main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount  , the message couldn't be clearer-- it is the season to part with one's hard-earned cash. Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai's 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season's commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree  with lights, or a snowman. With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don't think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China's Spring Festival. Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas? A) They have earned a lot of money. B) Goods are much cheaper during this period of time. C) It is time for shops to sell goods. D) Businessmen like Christmas.
