Module 1 Deep South
跟踪导练
阅读理解
A
For a trip in early December， pick a destination with a glacier—just to be certain. Over the holiday period there should ideally be a white Christmas at village level， too. Go for a vacation spot that's over 1，800 meters high and snow cover won't be a worry.
Val Thorens， France
Resort （胜地） height：2，300—3，230 m
Pistes （滑雪道）：495 km
Usual season： Late November to early May
From late November to early May， snow cover is rarely a problem in Val Thorens—it's the highest ski village in Europe with 99% of it above 2，000 m， and suitable for beginners and intermediates. The excellent choice of independent ski schools here includes New Generation. The tourist attraction has benefited from new， attractive buildings， and a great collection of restaurants.
Val d'Isère， France
Resort height：1，850—3，456 m
Pistes：300 km
Usual season： Late November to early May
Val d'Isère is one of the Alps' best-known vacation spots for advanced skiers and boarders， which means it's not the cheapest. But this is the one place that has plenty of snow at Christmas， especially as it has the largest snow-making operation in Europe. It can pump out enough snow to cover Wembley Stadium in a meter of snow in less than an hour.
Obergurgl， Austria
Resort height：1，950—3，080 m
Pistes：110 km
Usual season： Mid-November to early May
Obergurgl has been popular with British families for more than half a century， with a mainly easy ski area linked by gondola （缆车车厢） to the higher village of Hochgurgl. The climate is snow-sure， so this is one of the first major tourist attractions to open for the winter， normally in mid-November.
1. Which place is suitable for a skiing learner？
A. Val Thorens. B. Val d'Isère. C. Obergurgl. D. Hochgurgl.
2. What is special about Val d'Isère？
A. It's the best. B. It is designed for advanced skiers.
C. It's expensive. D. It has a snow-making system.
3. What do we know about Obergurgl？
A. It's located in Australia. B. It's a young tourist spot.
C. It's intended for independent skiers. D. It has the longest ski season of the three.
4. What do the three destinations have in common？
A. They are for families. B. They are high-altitude.
C. They are economical. D. They are snow-sure.
B
Solothurn is a picturesque town in the northwest of Switzerland known primarily for its closest relation with the number eleven. It seems that everything in this place was designed around this magical number， from the fact that there are precisely eleven churches， as well as eleven historical fountains， eleven museums and eleven towers， to the unusual clock in the town square that features an eleven-hour dial and the number twelve missing.
Although nearly everyone in Solothurn knows about the town's obsession with the number eleven， the origin of that is covered in mystery. The first mention of eleven in Solothurn's history dates back to 1252， when eleven members were first elected for the town's council. Another great example of Solothurn's obsession with the number eleven is the magnificent Cathedral of St Ursus. Designed by Italian architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni， it was built in eleven years. It features three sets of steps， each numbering eleven rows， eleven doors， eleven bells and eleven altars （祭坛）， one of which is made out of eleven different types of marble. Interestingly， the altars can be viewed at the same time from only one place in the cathedral， the eleventh black stone in the long central part.
The people of Solothurn also show an intense interest in the number eleven in their daily life . There are special celebrations held on eleventh birthdays， and there are local products and businesses that include the special number. There is “Öufi-Bier”（Beer eleven）， “eleven-iSchokolade”（eleven-Chocolate）， and even “öufiyoga”（eleven o'clock yoga）. The mysterious relationship between Solothurn and the number has become one of the town's primary tourist attractions， and there is even a themed tour about the number eleven.
5. What is mainly talked about Solothurn in Paragraph 1？
A. Its unique designs. B. Its cultural origin.