1 . Hidden Gems: Underrated National Parks Worth Exploring
Many travelers flock to popular national parks like Yellowstone for their family vacations or adventurous getaways. However, there are some lesser-known gems that often go unnoticed despite their remarkable beauty and attractions.
Isle Royale National Park
Nestled in the heart of Lake Superior, Isle Royale requires a bit of effort to reach, but the journey is rewarded with breathtaking scenery. Accessible only by daily ferries, this park sees far fewer visitors compared to larger destinations like Yellowstone. Hikers are treated to sightings of wildlife such as wolves along the park’s picturesque trails.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Situated 68 miles southwest of the Florida Keys, the Dry Tortugas is a secluded (偏僻的) island park accessible only by boat or plane. Despite its small size, it boasts rich history, abundant marine life, and stunning coral reefs. At its center stands Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Covering over 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St Elias National Park is the largest in the entire U.S. park system. Remote and largely undeveloped, this park challenges visitors with limited access—only two roads lead into it. However, those who venture here are rewarded with a profound connection to nature unparalleled elsewhere.
Big Bend National Park
For travelers seeking a truly rugged (崎岖的) experience, Big Bend National Park is a must-visit destination. Renowned for its whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking opportunities, this park can be excessively hot during the summer months, deterring many tourists.
These hidden gems offer unique experiences and breathtaking landscapes, making them worthy contenders for any adventurer's bucket list.
1. Why does Isle Royale National Park receive fewer visitors?| A．It is located in a remote area and is difficult to reach. |
| B．It lacks wildlife and natural landscapes. |
| C．It has no historical or cultural significance. |
| D．Its climate is extremely hot. |
| A．Its white sand beaches. | B．Its ancient ruins. |
| C．Its abundant marine life and coral reefs. | D．Its mountainous landscapes. |
| A．Isle Royale National Park | B．Dry Tortugas National Park |
| C．Big Bend National Park | D．Wrangell-St. Elias National Park |
1. When did the museum reopen?
| A．In 2004. | B．In 2008. | C．In 2012. |
| A．“World View”. | B．“Moving Arena”. | C．“Life on Earth”. |
| A．The interactive exhibit. | B．The periodical shows. | C．The expert talks. |
1. How many times did the Mediterranean diet win the Best Diet?
| A．3. | B．4. | C．5. |
| A．High-quality olive oil. | B．Fruits and vegetables. | C．Whole grains and seeds. |
| A．Eat at small tables. | B．Eat out alone. | C．Have a meal for hours. |
The Guangdong Lion Dance, a national tradition popular in Foshan and Guangzhou, is a typical Southern Lion Dance.
Lion dancing
The Guangdong Lion Dance, a
For many, an act of kindness is its own reward. But Eva Hachey found her selflessness answered in ways she could never have imagined.
For weeks, Eva Hachey had imagined adopting a golden Chihuahua with a white spot on its forehead. And there he was, at her local SPCA in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The dog had been abused by his previous owners and was timid. “He’d come to me, then back away and growl, then come back to me,” Hachey said. “After 15 minutes, the attendant picked him up and put him in my lap. He started giving me kisses. He stole my heart in that moment.” She adopted the ten-month-old puppy on the spot and named him Bruno.
Bruno lived happily with Hachey and her 35-year-old daughter, Angel Hutchinson, for five months. Then, on the evening of September 26, 2016, Hachey, 52 at the time, returned home as usual at 8 p. m. from her job as a chiropractic assistant and office manager. And as usual, she ate supper in front of the TV in the living room. Around 10:30, a friend called, just as Bruno went into Hutchinson’s room to go to sleep for the night. Hachey and her friend chatted a bit, and as Hachey hung up, she noticed the time was 11:08.
“The next thing I remember was a male voice saying, ‘Eva, Eva, wake up.’ It was an emergency doctor,” said Hachey. “I looked around, and the room was just full of people. And I said, ‘What are you doing in my house?’”
What they were doing was saving her life. By the time Hachey had hung up with her friend, Hutchinson was fast asleep in her bedroom and Bruno was in his usual spot next to her under the blankets. Hachey believed Bruno heard something odd then and possibly went to the living room to investigate.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Unexpectedly, Bruno ran back to the bedroom and tried every means to awaken Hutchinson.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A year later, Hachey finally fully recovered.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . Top 4 must-see ancient villages in Beijing
Beijing is a world-famous historical and cultural city with a history of more than 3, 000 years. The rich and profound ancient village culture found in and around the city remains an important part of the capital’s history and culture. Below we recommend 4 must-see ancient villages in the Beijing area as the 2024 May Day holiday approaches.
Lingshui villageLocated in the northwest of Mentougou district, Lingshui village was formed in the Liao and Jin dynasties. The ancient dwellings in Lingshui village are a model of rural residential buildings during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) in northerm China, and their original appearance is well preserved. Tourists can explore over 120 folk houses, alongside many cultural relics in the village.
Shuiyu villageShuiyu village is in Fangshan district. The village was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With 600 houses and more than 100 sets of courtyard houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the original cultural ecology of the village has been well maintained. Facing both north and south, the village is laid out in a circular shape, forming a unique architectural style.
Sangyu villageSangyu village lies in the north of Mentougou district, Beijing, next to Lingshui village. Prior to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) , Sangyu village was called Sanyu or “encountering” in English, named for the three water channels that meet in the village. Dense mulberry tree forests surround the entire village, and when they bear fruit, purple mulberries light up the village valley.
Malan villageMalan village, which means “horse stable” in English, had a history of keeping horses that dates back to the Ming dynasty. The ancient buildings in Malan village are made of stone and mud. When building and repairing houses in the village, people try their best to maintain their original appearance. There is also an exhibition hall, a row of old houses, as well as 12 gate bridges in the the village.
1. Which village is designed round according to the text?| A．Lingshui village. | B．Shuiyu village. |
| C．Sangyu village. | D．Malan village. |
| A．They are models of rural buildings. |
| B．The houses are made of stones and mud. |
| C．Their original appearance are well maintained. |
| D．They were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. |
| A．Nature. | B．Agriculture. | C．Geography. | D．Tourism. |
7 . Defeating Daniil Medvedev in New York on Sunday, Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis player, bagging 24 Grand Slam (大满贯) singles titles, equalized the record held by Australian Margaret Court, the same number of singles titles in the all-time count.
With the victory, Djokovic became the oldest US Open men’s singles champion in the Open Era. In total, he has 10 Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, four US Opens and three Roland Garros titles, making him the only man to win all four majors at least three times. “When I realized that, I started to dream new dreams and set new goals. I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Slams,” he said afterwards.
Djokovic reached all finals in the Grand Slams in 2023, and the only loss was at Wimbledon, when Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, 20, brought home the champion after an intense battle lasting four hours and 43 minutes.
Djokovic, at 36, shows few signs of losing physical edge. He stays healthy, keeps exceptional skills and always desires to win more. Capturing his first Grand Slam in 2008, Djokovic bagged half of his 24 major titles after he turned 30.“One of the biggest lessons I have learned probably mentally throughout my career is that even if you find a formula (方案) that works, it’s not a guarantee, and actually most likely it’s not going to work the next year, so I keep reinventing myself and always trying to find better ways to win,” said Djokovic.
For Djokovic, who always gets tough when the going gets tough, 24 is just a number that he can go beyond. “I’ll continue to prioritize Grand Slams as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. That will stay the same in the next season, or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs,” he added, “So, let’s see.”
1. What does the underlined word “equalized” in the first paragraph probably mean?| A．Set. | B．Broke. | C．Levelled. | D．Approached. |
| A．He won 12 Grand Slams in his thirties. |
| B．He won all the finals in the Grand Slams in 2023. |
| C．He attached the same importance to all the matches. |
| D．He is the oldest men’s singles champion in the open era. |
| A．Losing physical edge. | B．Attending more Grand Slams. |
| C．Following a good formula. | D．Finding flexible and proper strategies. |
| A．Confident and emotional. | B．Ambitious and devoted. |
| C．Aggressive and stubborn. | D．Enthusiastic and generous. |
My childhood is magical and full of adventure. I have so many childhood memories, and I would like to share one that still stimulates me. This unforgettable childhood event was about the first day when I learned how to swim. It happened so unexpectedly and quickly that not only I but my parents were surprised. Of course, we were proud as well. I was barely seven years old back then, and my parents thought that it was time for me to learn how to swim. One summer morning, they took me to a swimming pool in the City Swimming Complex which was just a 35-minute drive from our house. It was a weekend and both my parents accompanied me. After we reached the Swimming Complex, we found many people were learning how to swim. My mother said she would watch me learn this important skill with the help of my father. Then she cheered me on and took a seat.
I had no idea how to swim but I was excited to try this new adventure. However, when my father got into the swimming pool with me, I became a bit nervous. It seemed that things were not quite as easy for me.
Looking around, I noticed that many other children of all ages were also trying to grasp this skill and some of them had pretty much learned the art and science of this skill. Influenced by others, I was determined to focus on my training and swim as well as them. Under the guidance of my father, I learned with all my effort and devotion, and I made rapid progress. After teaching me for 30 minutes or so, my father went to buy some snacks for us and my mother came to talk to me for a while near the pool. She asked me if I had learned anything at all. To prove my progress, I jumped into the water and started swimming.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My mother was frightened by my action at first.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Eating the snacks bought by my father, we were all thrilled and excited.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mount Tai, is a representative of Chinese mountains with
Mount Tai,
Historically, Mount Tai served as
The little country schoolhouse was heated by an old fashioned, pot-bellied stove. A little boy had the job of coming to school early each day to start the fire and warm the room before his teacher and his classmates arrived.
One morning, they arrived to find the schoolhouse engulfed (吞没) in flames. They dragged the unconscious little boy out of the flaming building more dead than alive. He had major burns over the lower half of his body and was taken to the nearby county hospital.
From his bed the dreadfully burned, semi-conscious little boy faintly heard the doctor talking to his mother. The doctor told his mother that her son would surely die—which was for the best, really—for the terrible fire had devastated (破坏) the lower half of his body.
But the brave boy didn’t want to die. He made up his mind that he would survive. Somehow, to the amazement of the physician, he did survive. When the mortal (致死的) danger was past, he again heard the doctor and his mother speaking quietly. The mother was told that since the fire had destroyed so much flesh in the lower part of his body, it would almost be better if he had died, since he was doomed to be a life-time cripple (瘸子) with no use at all of his lower limbs.
Once more the brave boy made up his mind. He would not be a cripple. He would walk. But unfortunately from the waist down, he had no motor (引起运动的) ability. His thin legs just dangled there, all but lifeless.
Ultimately he was released from the hospital. Every day his mother would massage (对……按摩) his little legs, but there was no feeling, no control, nothing. Yet his determination that he would walk was as strong as ever. When he wasn’t in bed, he was confined (限制) to a wheelchair.
Paragraph 1:One sunny day his mother wheeled him out into the yard to get some fresh air.
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Paragraph 2:
Ultimately through his strong determination, he did develop the ability to stand up.
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