Discovering the Lost City
Sixty miles south, in Cusco, Hiram Bingham gazed thoughtfully at the old Incan stone wall. He had come to this place in search of Vilcapampa, the lost city of the Inca. But right here was the most beautiful stonework he had ever seen-huge stones cut so perfectly that not even a razor blade could be slipped between them.
The Inca had no iron tools to carve them, no wheel or animals to move them. The wall had endured time and earthquakes.
It was a mystery.
He walked through the cobbled streets of the old capital, Cusco. The Spanish had come to this city, conquered the Inca, taken their gold, and built churches over their temples. Suddenly, he stopped. Before him was the famous Temple of the Sun. He placed his hands on the sun-warmed stones so beautifully carved, as if they had grown together.
The next day Bingham began his search. He would look for ruins-that might be the key. He and his party, accompanied by the military man Sergeant Carrasco, left for the holy valley of the Urubamba River. They came to the sleepy old village in the valley, long ago an important city.
“Are there any ruins nearby?” Bingham asked. “Do you know of the lost city of Vilcapampa?” No one knew of it. Traveling north, the adventurers came upon a remote and wild canyon. In the distance were snowcapped mountains over three miles high.
Far below in the valley, Bingham’s party camped on a sandy beach alongside the thundering rapids of the Urubamba River. Days had gone by. No one knew of any ruins.
This time, through the interpreter, the farmer said, “Yes. There are very good ruins on top of the mountain called Machu Picchu.” The farmer pointed straight up.
“Can you take us there?” Bingham asked.
...
| A．Hidden in the mountains, the lost city would be built of stones like these. |
| B．What could he be thinking! |
| C．But now the adventurers aroused the curiosity of a local farmer named Arteaga. |
| D．How had they built them! |
| E．Cliffs rose thousands of feet above the roaring rapids of the Urubamba River. |
| F．Suddenly, the clouds drifted away and there it was. |
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【推荐1】I dropped a Crock-Pot (炖锅) on my bare feet. More accurately, I slipped down the back steps of our house on a rainy night while carrying a Crock-Pot. Consequently, my feet got hurt, for which I had to wear slip-on house shoes instead of traditional footwear.
From then on, my daily routine slowed to a crawl because I had to walk at a snail’s pace. And I had to cancel unimportant outings and appointments. At first, I hated the interruption in my plans but I soon realized my injury had given me a gift: spare time. I rediscovered long-forgotten joys I’d thrown aside because I was too busy for such “luxuries”. I read a book for pleasure. I spent time in silence. I experimented with my watercolor set. And my spirit came alive again.
I had been living at such a crazy pace for so long: get up early, bury myself in my tasks at work, do housework, and collapse in the evening with no recollection of what I’d actually done in the past twelve hours. When I was forced to slow down, I realized how unhealthy my life-style had been. Something had to change, or I’d suffer from the consequences.
Finding a healthier balance has been an ongoing process, and now I’ve been able to see improvement. I’ve stopped filling my schedule with back-to-back meetings and obligations. I try to leave some margin (余地) in my time so I can breathe and think. I pay attention to my emotions especially those that tell me I “should” do something. Overall, I make time for the activities that bring me joy.
That encounter makes me realize the importance of slowing down and living with purpose. I make sure my schedule isn’t overloaded. I remember to ask for help when I need it.
1. Why does the author mention the accident in Paragraph 1?| A．To explain an idea. | B．To prove a theory. |
| C．To introduce the topic. | D．To make a prediction. |
| A．Happy. | B．Colorful. | C．Successful. | D．Busy. |
| A．It caused her great difficulty. | B．It changed her daily life. |
| C．It influenced her personality | D．It encouraged her to think positively |
| A．To describe a habit. | B．To introduce a career. |
| C．To advocate a lifestyle. | D．To discuss a problem. |
【推荐2】One spring morning, I was hiking on southeastern Alaska’s Island when I froze. 20 paces away was a huge Alaskan Wolf — caught in a trap. It was a mother wolf. Somewhere there were hungry pups (幼崽) waiting for her.
From her appearance, I guessed that she had been trapped only a few days. That meant her pups were probably still alive. So I decided to search for her pups. Fortunately, I spotted her pups. I began imitating the high-pitched call of a mother wolf calling her young. A few moments later, four tiny pups appeared. One by one, I placed them in a bag and headed back down the slope.
When the mother wolf spotted me, she let out a high-pitched. I released the pups, and they raced to her. I could see that the trap’s steel jaws had imprisoned only two toes. They were swollen, but she wouldn’t lose the paw — if I could free her.
“OK,” I said. “Just a minute and you will be free.” I applied pressure, the trap opened, and the wolf pulled free. Reaching the far side, I looked back. The mother and her pups were sitting where I had left them, watching me. I waved. At the same time, the mother wolf sent a long howl into the air.
Four years later, I returned after serving in the Army. Standing on the edge of a hill, I gave out a wolf call. An echo came and a wolf call followed. Then I saw a dark shape moving in my direction. “Hello, old girl,” I called gently. The wolf moved closer, her tail wagging slightly. Moments later, the wolf left. But the memory she left with me will always be there, a reminder that there are things in nature that exist outside the laws and understanding of man.
1. How did the author feel when he first came across the wolf?| A．Frightened. | B．Satisfied. |
| C．Excited. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．The author rescued the mother wolf. |
| B．The author managed to find the pups. |
| C．The author took the pups from their mother. |
| D．How did the author freed the mother wolf. |
| A．The author was once a soldier. |
| B．It was winter when the story happened. |
| C．The author never saw the wolf again after saving her. |
| D．The wolf couldn’t recognize the author four years later. |
| A．A Hike Trapped a Wolf. |
| B．We Should Protect the Wolf. |
| C．The Story Between a Man And a Wolf. |
| D．How Can One Help Endangered Animals. |
I received a private message on Facebook. It began harmlessly enough “Hey, girl. Wanted to invite you to join my next challenge group—we’ll be focusing on fitting in 30 minutes of exercise and balanced nutrition.”
It was all becoming too much. Facebook was running my life, not me.
But what killed Facebook for me was when I posted a photo, and five minutes later my son asked me how many “likes” it had got. His question was a wake-up call “Likes” are signs of acceptance and approval. I had forgotten that acceptance and approval need to come from within and had unknowingly set him a bad example.
Before Facebook, surfing the Internet was an occasional distraction and I spent a lot more time reading books and magazines. I checked in with friends through texts, emails and phone calls.
To recreate the simplicity of those days and set a healthier example for my son, I deactivated my Facebook account. I’d been in the habit of checking Facebook many times a day, so I had to come up with some new habits. I carried a novel and a crossword puzzle book around with me. I rediscovered knitting (针织). I started taking yoga classes.
I started to remember a few things. My body is fine just the way it is. I have friends who will help me out when I’m in trouble, and I will help them out. I do my best to be a good mother, and our son is happy and healthy. We are very lucky to be able to afford two vacations a year. I stopped looking at the world through my cellphone. I felt pleased at the moment. The break left me feeling better about myself, my family, my home and my life.
After a few weeks, I returned to Facebook. Now I look at the photos of my friends, kids growing up and treasure how social media allows me to keep in touch with family far and wide. I look in on a daily basis, but no longer with the desire constantly to post updates.
It is not an addiction any more.
1. What caused the author deactivate her Facebook account?2. What did the author do to change her life?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underlined it and explain why.
After I found Facebook was running my life, I completely stopped using it.
4. What do you think is the best way to use social media? Please explain. (about 40 words)
