Say you are a 17th century construction (建筑) worker who’s worked long and hard to build a splendid tower for the dead wife of your emperor (皇帝).
Now say that the emperor orders you to cut off your fingertips so you can never build another one. Yes, that is the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world. And the tale (传说) behind the construction is just as impressive (印象深刻的) as the building itself.
First, there’s the emperor of northern India, Shah Jehan, also called the King of the World. In 1612, Shah Jehan married Mumtaz Mahal. Madly in love, they had 14 children over the next 19 years. But then sadness came. As Mumtaz was about to give birth to child Number 14, she said she had heard her unborn baby cry out. It was a sign of death. And as Mumtaz lay dying, she asked Jehan to build a lasting memorial (纪念物) to celebrate their love.
When the heartbroken Jehan appeared eight days after his wife’s death, his people were shocked to see that his coal-black hair had turned snow-white.
Putting away his sadness, Jehan ordered his wife’s dying wish be carried out (执行). More than 20,000 workers labored nearly 22 years to complete the construction. In 1653, Jehan placed Mumtaz’s remains in the center under the building.
And then, son Number five, Aurangzeb, murdered his brothers and took over the power from his aging father. Jehan lived the rest of his days — eight years, to be exact — imprisoned not far from the Taj Mahal. Jehan was only allowed to climb onto the top of his prison to see the timeless treasure from a distance (从远处). But never again would he be allowed to visit it — until he was buried next to his wife.
Today 25,000 people visit the Taj Mahal each day. Though the reason for building the tower was a strange, sad story, those who see its breathtaking beauty are reminded (使想起) of the happiness that inspired (激发……的灵感) its construction.
1. The first two paragraphs were written to show that ______.| A．the Taj Mahal is an unusual historic building |
| B．ancient Indian emperors were cruel |
| C．construction workers led a hard life in ancient India |
| D．India has some of the most famous buildings in the world |
| A．a prison | B．a gift to Mumtaz |
| C．a memorial building | D．a tourist attraction (景点) |
| A．1626 | B．1631 | C．1634 | D．1653 |
| A．the married happiness of the emperor and his wife |
| B．the great pleasure Jehan once found in exercising his power |
| C．the happiness Jehan felt on completing the Taj Mahal |
| D．the pleasure tourists experience when visiting the Taj Mahal |
2 . With a number of rivers globally in crisis due to pollution, damming, and reduced rainfall, there’s never been a better opportunity to appreciate everything that rivers give to the world.
Rivers provide drinking water
Two thirds of the UK’s tap water is either from a river or from a river-fed body of water.
Ancient farming depended on these life-giving waters, so does modern agriculture. During the rainy season, many rivers overflow their banks, nourishing the soil with minerals and nutrients. Besides, rivers act as water sources for irrigation.
A good source of food comes from rivers
A fifth of the fish that are fished globally come from rivers and other freshwater sources. Another two thirds of fish that people eat rely on rivers for breeding, nutrients, or other reasons.
Human culture is tied to rivers
Rivers provide leisure activities
| A．Rivers are important for agriculture |
| B．Rivers are more than just water under the bridge |
| C．Rivers are closely connected to ancient civilizations |
| D．A large part of our modern life is involved with rivers |
| E．The organization American Rivers gives a similar figure for the US |
| F．Consequently, rivers can provide homes for a diversity of plants and animals |
| G．Protecting rivers and their biodiversity is a good way to protect this valuable source of food |
Imperial Mountain Resort in Chengde used to be the resort of emperors of Qing Dynasty. Situated in the city of Chengde in northeastern Hebei Province, the resort is
Surrounded by lakes, forest and mountains, it is China’s
The resort and the 12 Buddhist temples at its periphery (外围) were built during the Qing Dynasty. It served as the second political center of the Qing imperial court
Mount Lushan is located in Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province. Lushan National Park
Mount Lushan has an important place in Chinese history and culture. It is
In 1982, Mount Lushan became one of the first National Scenic Areas and one of the First Class National Nature Reserves. All attributes of Mount Lushan are
Zibo barbecue
Mouth-watering images describe a typical Zibo barbecue
Zibo was hardly on anyone’s travel bucket list
The local government has jumped
The city’s other attractions, such as the Haidai building, a
注意：1. 词数80左右。(长江：Yangtze River)
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯D
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Lying in southeastern Tibet autonomous region and in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon (峡谷) is the world’s
As the Yarlung Zangbo River took a horseshoe-shaped turn around Mount Namjagbarwa and then ran towards the Indian Ocean, the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon
The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon at the eastern end of the Himalayan range is home
8 . Longing for the most amazing places on the planet? You can do no wrong with these lakes across the globe.
Five Flower Lake
Set in the striking karst landscape of the Jiuzhaigou Valley in Sichuan province, China, Five Flower Lake is extraordinarily clear, with visibility to a depth of 40 metres. Five Flower is one of a series of blue-, green-and sky-colored lakes blocked by rock falls, but it differs from the others as its waters change color, looking sometimes yellow, sometimes green, but usually diamond blue. In winter, Five Flower never freezes; in summer, it never dries up. Local wildlife living in the surrounding mountain forests include the rare giant panda and the golden snub-nose monkey.
Crater Lake
The deep-blue waters of Crater Lake in Oregon, US, fill the outlet of an ancient volcano that collapsed 7,700 years ago. Its strangest occupant is the “Old Man of the Lake”, a nine-metre-tall tree stump(树桩), which has stood upright in the water for more than a century. No rivers or streams enter the lake. Water loss in summer is compensated by winter snow and rain, the entire body of water being replaced every 250 years.
Lake Ohrid
Ancient Lake Ohrid has been around for about five million years and crosses the mountainous border between Macedonia and Albania. It has unique plants and wildlife, including the Ohrid “plashica”, a fish native to the lake, whose scales(鳞片) are used to make Ohrid pearls.
Lake Maggiore
Surrounded on three sides by the Lipontine Alps and touching the plain of Lombardy to the south, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s longest lake. Considered part of the country’s lake district, it is shared with Switzerland. Characterized by a Mediterranean-style climate, temperatures here are mild all year. This has given rise to some of northern Italy’s most wonderful gardens, which appear to float like flower-decked boats on the water.
1. What makes Five Flower Lake different from other lakes?| A．Its agreeable climate. | B．The rare local wildlife. |
| C．Its color-changing waters. | D．The visibility of waters. |
| A．By artificial rain. | B．By snow and rain. |
| C．From nearby streams. | D．From an ancient tree. |
| A．Five Flower Lake. | B．Crater Lake. |
| C．Lake Ohrid. | D．Lake Maggiore. |
9 . The UNESCO World Heritage List is a prestigious honour awarded to sites of outstanding universal value around the world. Did you know there are 1,157 UNESCO World Heritage Sites spanning across 167 countries? We’ve picked out our top 4 for you to visit below.
The Acropolis, Greece
The Acropolis is an ancient castle that stands proud in the Greek city of Athens. Back in the fifth century BC after battle with the Persians, the plans of Pericles came to life under the influence of Pheidias, the sculptor. It then became a place for thought and art to flourish, where symbols of classical spirit and civilisation came alive.
Historic centre of Rome, Italy
According to Roman mythology, the Eternal City was founded in 753 BC and became the capital of the mighty Roman Empire. Rome is home to a number of attractions including the Forum, the Pantheon and the Colosseum! This World Heritage site contains the whole historic centre within the city walls and reflects the influence of the Renaissance and Baroque periods in making it one of Italy’s most popular cities.
Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
The historic city of Ayutthaya in Thailand was founded around 1350 and was subsequently destroyed in the 18th century by the Burmese. What’s left today is the ruins and some key highlights include the Buddhist temples of Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. The area is home to the remains of tall prang (reliquary towers) and should not be missed.
Cultural landscape of Bali, Indonesia
The landscape in Bali is unlike anything else on Earth. Consisting of five rice terraces (梯田) and water temples covering 19,500 hectares, the cultural landscape takes your breath away. This site gains honour through an ancient farming ceremony dating back to the 9th century known as subak. This concept reflects the spirit, the human world and nature, also known as Tri Hita Karana.
1. What might have happened in Greece in the 5th century BC?| A．Greece became famous for its castles. | B．Pheidias became a sculptor. |
| C．Greece fought against Persians. | D．The Greek spirit disappeared. |
| A．A rice terrace. | B．A cultural landscape. | C．A water temple. | D．An agricultural ceremony. |
| A．The Acropolis. | B．The Eternal City. | C．Ayutthaya. | D．Tri Hita Karana. |
10 . The huge high rises, loud noises, and masses of people make up a symbolic United States destination and the city millions of people call home. Winding your way through the streets of New York City is an overwhelming and humbling (令人谦卑的) experience.
Walking down these busy streets you are sure to see several different coffee shops where writers with dreams are typing away or perhaps old friends catch up as they drink. Next, there are the classic pizzerias where many love to go to get a slice of New York style pizza. Another city classic are the popular delis, a favorite quick and easy lunch hot spot.
A valued aspect (方面) of the city streets is the artistic attraction they hold. Brushes of color brighten up the modern buildings. The buildings become an artist’s studio where creativity comes to life, beautifying the city and showing social and political expressions.
There is nothing more American than a street in New York City.
| A．The beautiful variety brings life into the city. |
| B．The energy they give off will be sure to inspire you. |
| C．These streets are known for their variety of great food. |
| D．An additional form of art that fills these streets is music. |
| E．The many aspects of the urban culture are there on the street. |
| F．A huge benefit of the city life is the diverse transportation choices. |
| G．You become one tiny fish in the deep depths of the ocean once entering. |
