Chile is famous for its many attractions. If you’re planning a visit, be sure to add “Mano del Desierto” or “Hand of the Desert” to your must-see list.
Standing 11 meters tall and made of iron and cement (水泥), this sculpture of a hand emerges from the sand in the Atacama Desert, which is known as the driest desert in the world outside of polar regions. The sculpture was created by Mario Irarrazabal in the early 1980s and was financed by a local nonprofit organization. The sculpture is not only impressive in terms of its design but also in the message it expresses. Many people believe that the hand represents the weakness and helplessness of human beings, as well as their strength and determination to overcome hardships. It is a reflection on the human condition and our relationship with nature.
If you’re interested in visiting the Hand of the Desert, take Route 26 or 28 from Antofagasta, a port city in northern Chile. The sculpture is located between mile markers 1309 and 1310 and can be reached from either direction. The desert’s flatness makes it easy to spot the sculpture from far away.
Visitors should take precautions (预防措施) before leaving, such as filling their gas tanks, packing plenty of water, and wearing sunscreen. They should also avoid driving too quickly, as many car accidents occur in the desert each year.
For those who are nervous about driving alone, working with an agency like Plan South America is a good choice. The founder of the agency, Harry Hastings, said that he always tries to join a visit to the sculpture with guests traveling to the desert, calling it an “important landmark” that is both culturally and visually significant.
1. What makes the Hand of the Desert a famous attraction?| A．Its height and material. | B．Its location and. designer. |
| C．Its building time and local support. | D．Its design and meaning. |
| A．The sculpture can be reached very easily. |
| B．The sculpture can be seen from far away. |
| C．The sculpture is protected by the government. |
| D．The sculpture attracts millions of visitors every year. |
| A．He built the sculpture “Hand of the Desert”. |
| B．He gave the financial support to the sculpture. |
| C．He speaks highly of the sculpture. |
| D．He likes driving alone to visit the sculpture. |
| A．A science fiction. | B．A magazine. | C．A fairy tale. | D．A book review. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】This is the classic Red Center tour. Take your time to spend three days exploring the highlights of the area — Uluru, Kata, Tjuta, and Kings Canyon.
Day 1: Alice Springs to Uluru(Ayers Rock)
Starting in Alice Springs, set off to experience a working camel farm, perhaps even enjoying a ride. In the afternoon we set out for Kata Tjuta and take a guided walk through the impressive Domes of Kata Tjuta. We then head to Australia’s most iconic landmark — Uluru(Ayres Rock).
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Fees included:
Uluru — Kata Tjuta National Park admission
Uluru sunset drinks
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Uluru Sunrise
An early start this morning is rewarded with the Uluru sunrise. While the morning is fresh, enjoy a walk around the base of the rock, gaining insights into the land and the local Mala Aboriginal people. After lunch, perhaps we will purchase some local arts and crafts at the Uluru Cultural Center. We will eat and spend the night at Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon).
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Activities included:
Mala cultural interpretative walk
Uluru Cultural Center
Watarrka National Park(Fees not included)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Kings Canyon Rim(边缘)walk
After breakfast, get your hiking shoes on and head out to explore the Kings Canyon. You’ll be left breathless by the great beauty of the canyon as you walk through the Lost City and the North and South Walls. After lunch, we will go back to Alice Springs.
Activities included: Kings Canyon Rim walk
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Special Information:
$600 person, 10% discount for two people together.
Flight must be booked to depart from Alice Springs the day after the trip finishes.
1. What do Day1 and Day 2 have in common?| A．The starting time. | B．The guided activities. |
| C．The living condition. | D．The meal arrangements. |
| A．$540. | B．$600. | C．$1080 | D．$1140 |
| A．To introduce a touring route. |
| B．To stress the benefits of travelling. |
| C．To tell people how to organize a three-day tour. |
| D．To show visitors how to enjoy themselves to the full. |
【推荐2】Visiting Washington, D.C. is not a waste of your time and money. There are many destinations in Washington, D.C. that you can include in your journey, which make your travel to this great city worth your time and money. Here are some notable attractions that the city can offer.
Smithsonian Institution
It is the image of 19th sandstone called Castle. This is an institution that has got more than nine museums. A one-day tour is not enough to cover it all. The best places to visit are Air and Space Museum and Museum of Natural History.
Jefferson Memorial
This place houses the 19-foot statue of America’s third president. In addition, there are some writings in the wall like Declaration of Independence and some Jefferson’s writings.
Michel Richard Citronelle
This famous chef got a restaurant at the heart of Washington, D.C. He prepares wonderful dishes to dignitaries who frequent this place. It is not only about attractive menu, but the service is professional. The multi-course is accompanied with wine. The restaurant’s wine cellar houses thousands of bottles.
Mandarin Oriental
This is a taste of Asia in the district. The hotel amenities (设施) are world class with pool and spas. The restaurant shows the city’s view on a flat screen TV and the rooms have Internet access.
The White house
It should not be missed. It is one of the most significant buildings in the city. Its architecture is grand and suits the city’s landscape. There are guided tours that you can join in.
Twins Jazz
If you want to enjoy jazz music, this is the place to be. You can hear grassroots musicians play. The food is also good.
1. What can you visit in Smithsonian Institution?| A．Castles. | B．Museums | C．Statues | D．Restaurants |
| A．Taste Asian food. | B．Cook delicious dishes. |
| C．Enjoy good food and service. | D．Swim and enjoy free Wifi. |
| A．Jefferson Memorial | B．Mandarin Oriental | C．The White House. | D．Twins Jazz |
【推荐3】Different cultures have their unique celebrations of the calendar New Year's traditions. Now let's learn some of famous New Year's traditions around the world.
The Netherlands
Amsterdam hosts one of the world's largest street parties on New Year's Eve. If you attend, buy some oliebollen to eat at mid-night. It is usually believed that eating these deep fried oily balls wI'll drive away evil spirits in the New Year. Dam Square (the craziest), Nieuwmarkt, and Leidseplein host unofficial street parties with music, fireworks and beer tents. Amsterdam's celebration is not for the casual partier: Some attendants have compared it to a war zone!
Scotland
Celebrating Hogmanay, which stands for the last day of the year, is a big deal in Scotland. It is so grand that it often overshadows Christmas. Christmas was outlawed by the Church of Scotland for nearly four centuries, and it didn't make a comeback until 1958. Though the holiday has regained its popularity, the New Year Festival of Hogmanay still holds a sacred place in Scottish hearts.
Australia
Sydney Harbor hosts one of the biggest New Year's Eve celebrations in the world. It's mid-summer in the southern part of globe, and thousands of people gather around the Opera House in advance. An air-plane show and a water display open the celebration at 6:00 pm. A family-friendly fireworks show starts at 9:00 pm, while the main attraction-the Harbor Light Parade is at midnight.
The United States
Each year, hundreds of thousands of people flock lo New York City to see the Big Apple drop at midnight. This New Year's Eve tradition actually began as a replacement for fireworks, which had been forbidden in New York. In addition to watching balls drop, in other US cities you can watch peaches, giant walleye, and other locally relevant symbols lowered as the clock strikes midnight.
1. What is eating oliebollen mainly related to?| A．History | B．Custom | C．Literature | D．Location |
| A．Australia | B．Scotland | C．The Netherland | D．The United States |
| A．a geographic book | B．a travelling research |
| C．an advertisement | D．a tourist brochure |
【推荐1】Big Bubbles
We all love bubbles. They float through the air like little glass balls, shining with colors and light. You can make bubbles with dishwashing soap and a paper cup. Soap makes the water stick together in a round shape. The bubbles you blow will be really big!
Here’s what you will need:
• A large bowl • A spoon • 4 cups of water
• 5 tablespoons of dishwashing soap
• A pair of scissors
• A paper cup
Follow these steps(步骤) to make big bubbles:
1. Fill the bowl with the water.
2. Add the dishwashing soap into the water and mix them together.
3. Cut a small hole in the bottom of the paper cup. This is the hole that you will blow through.
4. Dip the top rim of the cup into the soapy water. Slowly lift the cup out of the bowl. There should be a thin “window” of soapy water filling the open space of the cup.
5. Slowly put your mouth up to the hole in the bottom of the cup. Gently blow air through the hole. A big bubble will rise into the air! For a party, you can make a bowl of soapy water and a paper cup bubble-blower for each friend. If your friends do step 4 and 5 again and again, just think of how many bubbles you can make together!
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．People can make bubble-blowers. | B．Bubbles are shining with colors. |
| C．It is easy to make big bubbles. | D．Everyone loves big bubbles. |
| A．Step 1. | B．Step 2. | C．Step 3. | D．Step 4. |
| A．1 and 2. | B．2 and 3. | C．3 and 4. | D．4 and 5. |
The neglected baby is crying alone. The young man, suffering from a lack of sleep, threatens suicide. The marriage fails because of the husband’s crazy behavior.
Is this just another story of social breakdown in the modern age? Not really. But they are the effects of a real social problem—Internet Addiction, or, Internet Addiction Disorder.
The addiction is obvious from the popularity of one game alone: “Halo 2”. It’s a first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios for the Xbox video game console. By early 2005, 1 million players worldwide had clocked up an amazing 100 million hours on the game, among which are 360,000 Chinese players.
China has about 94 million regular Internet users. Of these, a survey suggested, 4.4 million are teenagers who are so addicted to it that they neglect anything else.
Video gamers who have gone too far show symptoms similar to those of alcohol and drug abusers. “The real world meant nothing to me when I was fully involved in online games. I lost track of time, space, hunger, pain, and everything,” explained Liu Pinyi, a 19-year-old college dropout. She has had treatment in Beijing for her addiction.
What makes it similar to drugs is that online game addicts also develop a chemical imbalance in their brains. Gaming stimulates the production of a chemical compound that produces delighted or pleasant feelings. When they’re away from the screen, they suffer feelings of anxiety and headaches.
Experts say young people are attracted to video games partly because they are partly because they are pushed right into the center of the action. This allows them to overcome a lack of confidence which people at that age can often suffer from.
1. What’s the writer’s main purpose in writing the first paragraph?| A．To show his worries about Internet Addiction. | B．To show harm of Internet Addiction |
| C．To warn couples of the problem. | D．To introduce the topic of the passage. |
| A．1 million hours. | B．94 million hours |
| C．100 million hours. | D．360,000 hours |
| A．They forget time, space, hunger and everything. |
| B．They drink a lot of alcohol and use drug. |
| C．They feel confident in the virtual games |
| D．Their brains produce a chemical which makes them delighted. |
| A．Internet is bad for teenagers |
| B．Actions should be taken to deal with Internet Addiction |
| C．Web produces Internet Addiction Disorder |
| D．Teenagers should not play video games |
【推荐3】Project Puffin, Skomer, Pembrokeshire
Passionate about wildlife and nature? These surveys and activities offer volunteers a close-up of our fauna (动物群）and flora (植物群）while helping to safeguard the environment. Plan ahead for next summer and join the "puffarazzi" with the RSPB. Between early June and late July 2020,visitors to the UK's puffin (善知鸟）colonies will be asked to take photographs of birds with fish in their bills, making a note of the date, time and location and then uploading that information to a dedicated page on the RSPB 's website. The idea is to help conservation scientist Dr Ellie Owen and her team pinpoint why puffin colonies are declining (the current thinking is that it is related to a reduction in food availability caused by climate change). The colonies include Skomer Island, in Pembrokeshire, to which the Wildlife Trust of South&West Wales runs day trips between Easter and the end of September. |
Boat fares from Martin's Haven to Skomer are ￡11 adult, ￡7 child, landing fee ￡11 adult, ￡5 child. Hostel-style overnight stay ￡30 adult, ￡15 child. Details of Project Puffin at rspb.org.uk |
1. We can learn from the advertisement that .
| A．visitors are asked to take pictures of animals and plants |
| B．the activity is meant to help safeguard the environment |
| C．the decline of puffin colonies is caused by illegal hunting |
| D．the puffin colonies is a tourist attraction for long holidays |
| A．￡68 | B．￡98 |
| C．￡128 | D．￡158 |
