Mount Everest, which is part of China,
Sir George Everest, after
But the height most people have been using for Mount Everest came from a 1955 survey
Last year, four surveyors from Nepal climbed Mount Everest and made new measurements, using GPS and satellite information. And in May, China sent up
Over the summer break, a wave of fashionably
“Citywalk” means the act
“Kaifeng is one of China’s first national historical and cultural cities, boasting a deep-seated cultural heritage. It’s an ideal destination for unhurried exploration, encouraging visitors
3 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式,并将答案填写在答题卡上。
The Silk Road,
While the name “Silk Road” originates from the
In 2013, China began to
Placed among the busy streets of Washington, D. C. is a large public garden that many Americans have never heard of. The U. S. National Arboretum (植物园) includes
Government scientists are in charge of the 180-hectare area. Their main goal is
The arboretum is home to one of the
While the scientists do their work, the public
5 . With the weight of its tall buildings, streets and people, New York City is sinking at an average rate of 1 to 2 millimetres each year, a new study says.
The sinking is called “subsidence”. That natural process happens everywhere as ground is compressed (压紧). But the study sought to estimate how the huge weight of the city itself is hurrying things along.
Over 1 million buildings are spread across five boroughs (自治区). The research team found that all those structures add up to 1. 5 trillion metric tons of concrete, metal and glass, equal to the mass of 4, 700 Empire State buildings pressing down on the Earth.
The rate of compression is different throughout the city. Midtown Manhattan’s skyscrapers are largely built on rock, which compresses very little. But some parts of Brooklyn, Queens and downtown Manhattan are on looser soil and sinking faster, the study said.
While the process is slow, parts of the city will eventually be under water. Researchers reached conclusions using satellite imaging, data modeling and mathematical calculations. It will take hundreds of years before New York becomes Venice, which is famously sinking into the Adriatic Sea. But parts of New York are more at risk. A researcher said Manhattan is at risk because of the borough’s large weight.
The ocean is rising at a similar rate that the land is sinking. So the Earth’s changing climate could speed up the process for parts of the city to go under water. Already, New York City is at risk of flooding because of large storms. Storms like Sandy in 2012 caused the ocean to expand inland and flooded neighbourhoods after a lot of rain.
New York City is not the only place sinking. San Francisco, California, is also at risk because of pressure on the ground and the area’s active earthquakes. In Indonesia, the government is preparing for a move from Jakarta, which is sinking into the Java Sea. The government is building a new capital being constructed on the higher ground of an entirely different island.
1. What is the main reason for the different compression rates in New York?A.Different measurement methods. | B.Different geological(地质的)conditions. |
C.Different building materials and styles. | D.Different climate changes and impacts. |
A.Its huge weight. | B.Its distance to the sea. |
C.Its similar position. | D.Various frequent natural disasters. |
A.To keep the reader’s attention. |
B.To improve the atmosphere. |
C.To show the issue is common. |
D.To point out the negative effect of sinking. |
A.New York City Is Slowly Sinking | B.The Flavour of New York City |
C.Here Comes a Future Venice | D.The Problems Caused by Dropping |
Each city has its own unique cultural symbol,
Qinhuangdao is focusing on fashion tourism. A first-class international tourist city needs wold tourist attractions, and Qinhuangdao seems
Qinhuangdao has successfully transferred the world’s unique cultural symbol,The Classic ofMountains and Seas,into the city’s cultural
A distinctive and unique city cultural symbol can improve recognition and identity,
7 . 4 Most walkable cities in Europe
Seville, Spain
Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top four tourist attractions.Visitors can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that, it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood.
Venice, Italy
Venice is well-known as a heaven for pedestrians (行人), so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. There are endless alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of beautiful bridges over the crisscrossing canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, Basilica and bell tower, all in only 1.3 miles.
Porto, Portugal
Nestled along Portugal’s picturesque coast, Porto comes in third with its top attractions all covered by a 30-minute walking route. Meander along the Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River, head to the Clérigos Church Bell Tower and enjoy a riverfront walking place along the Cais da Ribeira. The Stock Exchange Palace is also just a short walk away.
Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy, secures its place as the fourth most walkable city in Europe thanks to its stunning attractions that can be seamlessly explored on foot. A 1.6 mile route covers the awe-inspiring Piazzale Michelangelo; the famous Uffizi Gallery; the Piazza del Duomo where you will be amazed at the magnificent Florence Cathedral; and the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of David.
1. How long is probably the walking route in Seville?A.1.1 miles. | B.1.3 meters. | C.1.6 meters. | D.1.8 meters. |
A.Seville. | B.Venice. | C.Porto. | D.Florence. |
A.To compare the four cities. |
B.To show the benefits of walking. |
C.To stress the importance of traveling. |
D.To attract visitors to walk in these cities. |
8 . As an important part of Three Parallel Rivers Scenic Area, Potatso National Park (Pudacuo National Park) is famous for lush (草木繁茂的) mountains, meadows (草地), lakes,rare animals and Tibetan culture. About a 50-minute drive from downtown Shangri-La, the park contains three main parts: Shudu Lake Scenic Area, Bitahai Lake Scenic Area, and Militang Alpine Pasture. You can reach them by the tourist bus from the park entrance.
Traveling around the park can be quite relaxing if you take the bus to see each scenic area one by one. Wooden boardwalks along the lakes allow you an easy walk as you take in the beautiful lake views and the surrounding mountain scenery. Or you can take a boat trip on the lakes for a more relaxing scenic experience.
If you want more of a challenge, there are also some short hiking routes in the park.Horse riding is also available in the park.
Route one: Walk from Lourong Village to Jieti Waterfall- -about 2. 2 km, taking about 50 minutes. You will see beautiful river views alongside the path.
Route two: Shudu Lake North Shore Pier to Tibetan Culture Experience Area- -about 3 km, taking about 1.5 hours. You can see the primeval (原始的) forest and enjoy Tibetan culture during this hiking trip.
Suitable for: nature lovers, hikers.
Access: Shangri-La is about a 6-hour flight from Beijing.
Best time to visit: The weather is comfortable from May to September and the meadows are full of blooming wild flowers.
Recommended visit time: a half day for the park, but 3 days are suggested for a Shangri-La trip. You can also extend the trip to Lijiang and Meili Snow Mountain, which are both within 4 hours’ driving.
1. What is the park famous for?A.New temples and historical sites. |
B.Rare wildlife and natural scenery. |
C.Adventure sports and exciting activities. |
D.Traditional festivals and musical performances. |
A.Swim in the lakes. | B.Participate in horse racing. |
C.Take a boat trip on the lakes. | D.Rent a car from workers of the park. |
A.From December to February. | B.From March to April, . |
C.From May to September. | D.From October to November. |
9 . The city of Rotterdam is planning to take apart a famous old bridge so that the world’s largest sailboat can be brought through the city once it’s completed. However, not everyone is happy about the plan.
Rotterdam’s Koningshaven Bridge, which local people call “De Hef”, is no longer in use. It’s an old bridge that was damaged by bombing during World War II. But it’s still important to many people in Rotterdam. When the city planned to take the bridge down in the 1990s, many people complained. Instead, the city fixed the bridge up and left it in place as a monument.
That’s a problem for the boat building company Oceanco. The company is building a huge sailboat, and the boat is too big to fit under the bridge. When the boat is finished, it’s expected to cost more than $500 million. It will be the world’s largest sailboat. Large sailboats are often called yachts but this is a super yacht. It will be 417 feet (127 meters.) long. When it’s finished , it will also be taller than the bridge. So Oceanco has asked the city to take the central part of the bridge down to allow the boat to pass through. The city has agreed and the government plans to rebuild the bridge afterward. Oceanco will have to pay for all the work done for the bridge. The work is expected to take a few weeks some time this summer.
The locals are upset about the plan of taking a historic monument apart. Despite the public’s protest against the plan, the city appeared to agree to the arrangement. Last week, a person speaking for the mayor said that the Koningshaven River is the only path the sailboat can take to the sea. The mayor’s office also pointed out the arrangement has economic efficiency, including providing a lot of jobs for the well-being of local people.
1. What happened to Rotterdam’s Koningshaven Bridge?A.It was taken down in the 1990s. |
B.It was damaged in World War II. |
C.It was destroyed and then deserted. |
D.It was fixed and returned to normal. |
A.To pay for the work done to the bridge |
B.To complete the sailboat in a few weeks. |
C.To get the bridge pulled down for the boat. |
D.To make the sailboat long and tall month. |
A.Supportive. | B.Excited | C.Opposed. | D.Optimistic |
A.National pride. | B.Economic benefits |
C.Tourism development. | D.Local industries. |
As is widely acknowledged, China can trace her history back thousands of years. Ancient
At present, China is home to
Another celebrated structure, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, was designed by renowned architect 1. M. Pei.
Looking to the future, Chinese architects are exploring several possibilities, the concept of “sponge cities (海绵城市)”