【正文】 f friends? Do you join a tour group? Do you travel with your family? Have you ever imagined going solo? In the mid 1990s, it was estimated that 9 million Americans were planning a summer vacation alone. Since then, the number of solo travelers has increased.You may think that traveling alone would be scary or boring. Well, according to people who do it, that39。s not exactly true. Solo travelers often have positive experiences: they make new friends, get to know themselves better, and can make their own schedules.There are many different things you can do on a vacation alone. Some solo travelers use the time to learn or practice a sport such as golf, mountain climbing, or scuba diving. Others go and stay on a ranch and learn how to ride a horse. You can pretend to be a cowboy or a cowgirl for a day!You may not believe this, but some travelers like to study on their vacation. They even go to vacation college at a university or join a research team as a volunteer worker. It39。s hard but satisfying work. You can play scientist for a week or two while you help someone with their project.For solo travelers of different ages and genders, there are many travel options, There are tours for women only and for people over the age of 60. And, of course, there are trips for singles who are looking for romance. One pany offers trips that focus on fine diningthere is time for sightseeing during the day and for sharing a delicious meal with new friends at night.The next time you take a trip somewhere, why don39。t you consider going solo?Bon voyage!Unit 2 Lesson AAudio Track 322, Audio Track 323Carson and Jenna are looking for a vacation rental home. Listen. Circle the one they choose.Jenna: OK, I think we have two choices. The first place is a little house. It39。s located in a fruit orchard.Carson: Really?Jenna: Yeah. And you can eat as much fruit as you want.. When it39。s in season, of course. Ohbut wait. It says there39。s no air conditioner.Carson: That39。s OK. It39。s on the rainy side of the island. It39。s cooler there. We can use a fan.Jenna: You39。re probably right Say. It looks pretty basic. No washing machine or dryer not even a TV!Carson: Oh no! What are we going to do without a TV? That39。s terrible!Jenna: Very funny. I39。m just letting you know about the place.Carson: I know. What39。s our second choice?Jenna: It39。s on the opposite sidethe sunny sideof the island. Very fancy place with a big swimming pool. It s only three blocks from the ocean.Carson: Who needs a swimming pool? I mean, it39。s only three blocks.Jenna: I see your point. Well, the pool area also has barbecue grills, beautiful gardens39。Carson: You like the second place better. I can tell..Jenna: Well, it does have everything. Washing machine, dryer, TV, VCR, frying pan39。*39。Carson: All we need is a toothbrush and a swimsuit Let39。s go with the second choice.Jenna: OK. I39。II call them right now and reserve it. I can t wait to go!Audio Track 324, Audio Track 325Ashley is asking Jose for help. Listen to the Conversation and plete each sentence.Ashley: Excuse me, I ’m trying to get to the City Zoo.Jose: Oh, let me think…ok, um, how are you getting there?Ashley: I want to drive, if it’s convenient.Jose: Well, the directions are easy. See that road over there?Ashley: Yes.Jose: That’s Second Avenue. Just go straight down Second and turn left at the traffic light.. Ashley: Ok.Jose: You ‘re be Church Avenue and it goes straight to the zoo.Ashley: Oh, so it ‘s not so farJose: No, but the traffic is usually heavy. And I don’t think the zoo has many parking spaces available for cars.Ashley: Hmm..Jose: Maybe you should take the subway.Ashley: Where do I catch it?Jose: There ‘s subway entrance right in front of the park. Take the red line three stops. Get off at the City Zoo stop. It’s pretty obvious.Ashley: Thanks a lot.Jose: No problem.Ashley: Oh, wait. One more thing. How much does the subway cost?Jose: Two dollars. Audio Track 326A realtor is showing house to Mrs. Willis. Listen to the conversation and decide which picture matches the situation.Realtor: Hello, , I think this house is perfect for you. I hope you like it.Mrs. Willis: It is nice and roomy.Realtor: Yes, there’s a lot of room. It’s a four bedroom house.: Great. I need a room for my home office because I work at home a lot. And I need two rooms for my kids.Realtor: And there’s also a big yard.Mrs. Willis: Great! I‘d love to have a garden. My kids can play there.Realtor: Shall we go outside and have a look?Mrs. Willis: OKAudio Track 327Listen to a talk about ways to improve life in the city. Then fill on the blanks with information you hear.There are several ways to improve life in my city. Our biggest problem is transportation. We really need more ways to get around. I’d like to ride my bicycle to work, but there is too much traffic on the streets. We need safer places for bicycling and walking. Another problem is the parks. We have some nice parks, but we don’t take good care of them and they are often dirty. We need cleaner parks, where children can play and adults can relax. One more problem is nightlife. There’s nothing to do in the evening. We should build a big theater for plays and concerts.Audio Track 328, Audio Track 329 Take back your streetTwo neighbors meet on a city sidewalk. They talk about planting more flowers along their street, or asking the city council to add bike lanes to a busy road. In small but important ways these people are changing the face of their cities.All around the world people are speaking up and working hard to make their cities safer and more pleasant pedestrians. Cities have painted cross walks on their streets, made their streets narrower put in traffic lights and speed bumps and made plans to help more kids walk all bike to school.Many people have