Editor’s notes: Shanghai Disneyland has created discussions on Chinese social media because of its VIP service, which allows high-paying customers to skip lines for rides and attractions. Do you support this service?
YES | Student A Paying special fees is seen as a normal business behavior. Disneyland is a for-profit (盈利) theme park, which means it has to find ways to make money. Guests who get to jump the queue have paid an extra fee, so why should we blame them? |
Student B According to Disneyland’s rules, VIPs may cut in line. After all, they have spent more money. If you buy a first-class ticket on a plane, you receive better treatment. And in banks, there are VIP windows for special customers. Spending more money is just a choice. | |
NO | Student C I think this service is a bad idea. First, it’s unreasonable to build one’s happiness upon others’ pain, so being rich doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want. Second, this rule may teach children that people can solve any problem with money, which is a misleading (误导) attitude (态度) towards life. |
Student D I don’t agree with paying extra money to cut in line. Though it’s convenient for VIP visitors, it wastes other tourists’ time, leaving a very bad impression on them. To make the matter worse, children will see that the world isn’t fair to everyone, which will be bad for the development of their values. |
阅读以上信息, 用恰当的单词完成下面的短文, 每空一词。
The hot topic “Should paying extra money lead to better treatment?” is being discussed. Some agree to it. Some are 1. it. People who support it think we have no 2. for blaming tourists who pay more, because they think there are first-class tickets on a plane or VIP windows in banks. Those people who 3. to it think that “paying more equals better treatment” may mislead children that all the 4. can be solved with money. And someone’s cutting in not only breaks rules, but also 5. other visitors badly. What’s your opinion?
We’ve probably all met someone who likes to show off about where he or she has been. To some people, traveling is all about how many places one has been to. But luckily, the old “been there, seen that” mode is changing.
Last year’s travel trend (趋势) was “experiential travel”. This is where tourists look for ways to get to know local culture and meet local people so they feel less like an outsider.
So what about this year? Can creative tourists get even more out of their traveling experience?
Transformative travel
Transformative (起改变作用的) travel is much like “experiential travel”, but takes it a step further.
It usually goes through three steps – you go to a place that has a very different background from where you live, you learn wisdom from the new culture and the people you meet, and finally you go back home and use the knowledge in your own lives. This last step is how the “transformation” is completed and what separates transformative travel from experiential travel.
Go green
One way to plan a green trip is to travel a shorter distance, which can reduce your carbon footprint (碳排放量). “One trans-Atlantic flight equals a year’s worth of driving, so taking a trip in this way can help protect the environment,” suggested Warren, according to US News.
Another way to go green in your travel plans is to choose a place that will be helped most from your trip. For example, places like Nepal will enjoy an increase in its local economy (经济) through the trip.
Disappearing sights
Some sights at risk of disappearing are also welcoming an increasing number of tourists.
Everett Potter, a USA Today writer, says that the Arctic and Antarctic have attracted more and more tourists since they are being greatly influenced by climate (气候) change.
Another top sight is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It’s believed that the reef will be seriously harmed in just a few years because of pollution and global warming. Travelers look forward to seeing the coral (珊瑚) “before it’s gone or completely changed”, Potter told US News.
The changing travel trends | ||
Before | To some people, traveling means the 1. of places they have been to. | |
Last year | Experiential travel | Tourists look for ways to better understand the local culture so they can be 2. like local people. |
This year | Transformative travel | ● Going to a place with a different background. ● Learning wisdom from the new culture and people. ● 3. home and using the knowledge in your own lives. |
Go green | ● One way is to travel 4. to your home. It can reduce your carbon footprint. ● Another way is to choose a place which will get the most help through the trip. | |
Disappearing sights | ● The Arctic and Antarctic have become more and more 5. because of climate change. ● Travelers expect to see the coral before it is gone or completely changed. |