【推荐1】（CNN）－Rivers are the life-giving blood vessels of our planet. They irrigate our farms, are an important means of transport and a source of eco-friendly power. They can be a whole lot of fun for travelers, too.

From strikingly strange and unusual wildlife centers to whitewater rafting hotspots and the most scenic stretches for cruising, we’ve highlighted 3 rivers worth basing your next trip around. Rankings are made on five travel criteria.

Scenic beauty－the physical beauty of the river; waterfalls, color, drama of the landscape.

Nature and wildlife－diversity and popularity of flora and fauna.

Culture－depth, diversity and accessibility of local culture; tribal/medieval villages etc.

Adventure－thrill factor of the river’s topography and location.

Activity options－rafting, wildlife watching, hiking, biking etc.

We’ve debated among ourselves, researched expert views and polled our colleagues and fellow travelers around the world, to score each river for these qualities.

3. Rio Cahabon（Guatemala）

Scenic beauty: 4 | Nature and wildlife: 3 | Culture: 2 | Adventure: 5 | Activity options: 5

Never heard of it? Few had, until a few years back, when a section of the Rio Cahabon’s densely forested pathway through central Guatemala was built as a key stop on the Central American backpacker trail.

Known as Semuc Champey, the series of spectacular steeped limestone pools bridging over the river are accessed via a hiking trail near the village of Lanquin.

Local hostels also offer candlelight tours of a cave system carved out by the water and year－round grade Ⅲand IV rafting.

2. Zambezi (Africa)

Scenic beauty: 5 | Nature and wildlife: 4 | Culture: 4 | Adventure: 5 | Activity options: 4

Boasting superb wildlife watching, some of the best white-water rafting on the planet and the thundering beauty of Victoria Falls, the Zambezi is a showstopper.

In the Middle Zambezi, which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe, you can bungee jump off Africa’s largest waterfall, or tackle the grade IV rapids just below.

Most wildlife—from hippo pods to big cats and sly Nile crocodiles—is spotted on jeep safaris and kayaking trips around the Lower Zambezi, where the swampy delta funnels down through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean.

1. Amazon River (South America)

Scenic beauty: 5 | Nature and wildlife: 5 | Culture: 4 | Adventure: 5 | Activity options: 5

Topping our list by an aquatic mile, the mighty Amazon snakes through the jungles of nine South American nations, providing a shelter for more than 400 native Indian tribes and one in ten of the known species on earth.

For travelers, the possibilities are huge—from wildlife spotting safaris to kayaking trips and gnarly jungle treks.

Backpacker-friendly Bolivia is a popular place to explore the pampas by lancha (long-tail boat), stopping off along Amazon tributaries to swim with pink dolphins, fish for piranha and track elusive anaconda.

1. The 3 rivers mentioned in the passage are ranked according to         .

A．their cultural diversity and popularity

B．the CNN journalists’ descriptions

C．5 travel criteria

D．experts’ views

2. Rio Cahabon is still less known to the world because         .

A．a pathway was not built until a few years ago

B．it runs through deep forests

C．it was discovered only a few years ago

D．few but backpackers dare to travel there

3. Tourists can experience bungee jump when travelling on         .

A．Zambezi	B．Rio Cahabon
C．Amazon River	D．all of the three

4. The underlined phrase “flora and fauna” most probably refers to         .

A．flowers and fruits	B．custom and tradition
C．culture and nature	D．animals and plants

【推荐2】

Zinc Can Cut Colds Short Zinc isn't the cure for the common cold, but mounting evidence indicates it can be a big help. An analysis of three randomised controlled trials found that 70 per cent of patients who had taken zinc acetate lozenges(80 to 92 mg per day)within 24 hours of noticing cold symptoms had recovered on the fifth day, compared with 27 per cent of patients who had received a placebo.While that dosage is higher than the daily recommended amount, no serious side effects were observed. Be sure your zinc lozenge doesn't also contain citric acid(柠檬酸), which can make it less effective.	Driving Can Lower Your IQ In a recent study of approximately 500,000 people between ages 37 and 73, researchers found a noticeable drop-off in brainpower, as measured by intelligence and memory tests, among those who drove for more than two hours each day. The study also found that the more time participants spent watching TV, which, like driving, fails to exercise either the body or the brain, the worse their test scores. If you must drive long distances to work, consider adding a mentally stimulating activity to your commute, such as listening to language lessons.
Dairy Helps Fight Early Menopause Calcium and vitamin D have long been known to work together to build strong bones. Now scientists have discovered that they may also play a role in preventing early menopause(更年期), which is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and other health issues. In a study of 116,430 premenopausal women, those who got the most calcium and vitamin D from food-especially dairy-had the lowest risk of early menopause. Supplements did not have any beneficial effect, perhaps because they lack the other vitamins, fats and hormones(such as progesterone and oestrogen)found in dairy.

1. Which of the following is True according to the passage?

A．Zinc can help treat any common cold effectively.

B．Despite time participants spent watching TV, their test scores are still high.

C．Language lessons are beneficial to mental activity.

D．Calcium is more functional than vitamin D in curing menopause.

2. What’s the main purpose of the passage?

A．To sell some medicines to the customers.

B．To inform readers of some pieces of medical news.

C．To offer some statistics about scientific researches.

D．To promote some products about milk.

【推荐3】ALL NEW!

REPTILE (爬行动物) PETTING ZOO at the Oak Park Nature Center

Kids! Are you tired of Mom or Dad taking you to the same’ old petting zoos where (if you’re lucky)you might get to touch a little rabbit or goat?

Mom or Dad! Are you tired of hearing your kids complain about how animals in the same old petting zoos are monotonous?

Consider This:

The fact is that most mammals (哺乳动物) are boringly warm, furry, . and come in a limited range of dull colors. Reptiles, on the other hand, are cold-blooded and covered with scales (鳞) of attractive colors, from bright green to bright red to dark purple-red. Some like the chameleon, can even CHANGE colors. Did you ever see a rabbit with scales and a purple tongue almost as long as its body? NO! In our zoo, you can see iguanas, snakes, bearded dragons, giant tortoise and other attractive creatures! Learn what these reptiles eat and how they care for their babies, which ones live in the desert and which live in wetlands, which ones are meat-eaters and which are vegetarians, which ones are deadly poisonous and which are not.

So Remember:

If you’re bored with furry animals like rabbits. . .

Then the place for YOU is the Reptile Petting Zoo!

Bring the WHOLE family —Grandpa, Grandma, Cousin Irene, even baby Joe!

There’s something for EVERYONE!

1. What does the underlined word “monotonous” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Active.

B．Boring.

C．Attractive.

D．Common.

2. People might like the animals in a reptile petting zoo because they are ________.

A．warm and furry	B．lovely and friendly
C．unusual and interesting	D．frightening and dangerous

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To encourage people to visit the zoo.	B．To inform people when the zoo is open.
C．To tell people how to distinguish reptiles.	D．To call on people to protect reptiles.

【推荐3】The Best Silk Road Tour

Silk Road, a business and trade route, originates from the ancient China and connects with the Asian, African   and European countries. Our well-designed Silk Road tour package will never let you down.

Departure City: Shanghai

Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle. Meals: 12 western buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches with some being alacarte (点菜) style.

Tour Highlights:

·Must-see sights in China-Terracotta Warriors, Famen Temple, Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Maiji Caves, Jiayuguan Pass and Mutianyu Great Wall.

·Trace back to the Silk Road of 2,000 years ago & learn about the culture and history Marvel at the art treasure-Mogao Caves & enjoy an exciting camel riding in the Gobi Desert. We Guarantee 100% No Shopping Stops!

Tour Prices

Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels
2-3 travelers	4-5 travelers	6-9 travelers
Each person: $3700	Each person: $3200	Each person: $2900
Tour Prices with Standard Hotels
2-3 travelers	4-5 travelers	6-9 travelers
Each person: $3400	Each person: $3000	Each person: $2600

·Prices are per person in US Dollars.

·Any parts of the tour length, activities or hotels can be tailored to your individual interests. Are you ready to follow the footsteps of the ancients to explore this mysterious land now?

1. What will people do on the tour?

A．Appreciate the ancient heritage.	B．Ride on camels all the way.
C．Stay a few nights in caves.	D．Do a lot of shopping.

2. Which of the following is most likely to join the tour?

A．A Beijing businessman good at golf.	B．A Japanese model loving fashion.
C．A Yunnan biologist interested in birds.	D．An American student learning history.

3. How much should a traveler pay for if she wants to live very comfortably with her husband and one child?

A．$3400.

B．$3700.

C．$10200.

D．$11100.

【推荐2】Gold Fame Citrus

by Claire Vaye Watkins ($5.99)

With the flight of its characters through a landscape destroyed by climate crisis, this novel does not indicate much hopefulness for the future. Within it is a series of situations and consequences made more severe in a future California short of water. Across the desert. we follow Watkins’ characters through a place so transformed that it needs its own field guide of animals newly adapted for strange survival.

The Ministry for the Future

by Kim Stanley Robinson ($18.1)

The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate will affect us all. Its setting is not a deserted world, but a future that is almost upon us. This extraordinary novel from the visionary science fiction writer will change the way you think about the climate crisis.

Breathing Fire

by Jaim Lowe ($27)

The front lines of the fight against climate change are peopled with those society has forgotten. Up to 30 percent of the firefighters battling wildfires in California each year are prisoners performing backbreaking labor while earning a 40th of what a civilian makes. This book follows six female prisoner firefighters and their worried families, looking into the human cost of environmental crisis.

Something Under the Sun

by Alexandra Kleeman ($28)

In Alexandra Kleeman’s new novel, a novelist new to Los Angeles teams up with a former child actor to investigate a conspiracy (阴谋). But this is L.A., where wildfires burn all year long and the rich store water while the poor suffer from the consequence of climate crisis. Human weakness is pushing the city toward a disaster.

1. Which book will change how we look at the climate crisis?

A．Gold Fame Citrus

B．The Ministry for the Future

C．Breathing Fire

D．Something Under the Sun

2. Which category does Something Under the Sun fall into?

A．drama.

B．Biography.

C．fiction

D．poetry

3. What do the four books have in common?

A．They show concern over climate.	B．They are at a discount.
C．They are intended for parents.	D．They are set in California.