1 . In the 1960s, while studying the volcanic history of Yellowstone National Park, Bob Christian-sen became puzzled about something that, strangely, had not troubled anyone before he couldn’t find the park’s volcano. It had been known for a long time that Yellowstone was volcanic in nature—that is what accounted for all its hot springs and other steamy features. But Christian-sen couldn’t find the Yellowstone volcano anywhere.
Most of us, when we talk about volcanoes, think of the classic cone(圆锥体)shapes of a Fuji or Kilimanjaro, which were created when erupting magma(岩浆)piled up. These can form remarkably quickly. One day in 1943, a Mexican farmer was surprised to see smoke rising from a small part of his land. In one week he was the confused owner of a cone five hundred feet high. Within two years it had topped out at almost fourteen hundred feet and was more than half a mile-across. Altogether there are some ten thousand of these volcanoes on Earth, all but a few hundred of them extinct. There is, however, a second less known type of volcano that doesn’t involve mountain building. These are volcanoes so explosive that they burst open in a single big crack, leaving behind a vast hole, the caldera(火山口).Yellowstone obviously was of this second type, but Christian-sen couldn’t find the caldera anywhere.
Just at this time NASA decided to test some new high-altitude cameras by taking photographs of Yellowstone. A thoughtful official passed on some of the copies to the park authorities on the assumption that they might make a nice blow-up(放大的照片)for one of the visitors’ centers. As soon as Christian-sen saw the photos, he realized why he had failed to spot the caldera: almost the whole park—2.2 million acres -was a caldera. The explosion had left a hole more than forty miles across-much too huge to be seen from anywhere at ground level. At some time in the past Yellowstone must have blown up with violence far beyond the scale of anything known to humans.
1. What does the underlined word “its” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．The ground. | B．The nature. |
| C．The volcano. | D．The park. |
| A．A single big crack was forming there. | B．Someone was burning stalks there. |
| C．A volcano was erupting underneath. | D．There were some hot springs there. |
| A．By looking at the photographs. | B．By analyzing its steamy features. |
| C．By researching historical documents. | D．By using some advanced equipment. |
| A．Its level is much higher than the surrounding areas. |
| B．The volcano in it involved mountain building. |
| C．It is a large hole left by the explosion. |
| D．Its shape is much like a cone. |
2 . Wales is home to some of the UK's most beautiful drives.Narrow lanes criss-cross the land. meaning travel can be slow-but there's no need to rush.
The Coastal WayThis route(路线）covers the entire length of Cardigan Bay, and spoils travelers with its remote beaches and charming seaside towns.
Comb the sand for fossils,shells at Aberdaron Beach,and then hit the road,heading cast toward Porthmadog. Here you can hop on a heritage steam train, a relic of the region's mining history,to give Snowdonia's skyline your undivided attention.
The Cambrian WayThe Cambrian Way, which cuts north to south through the heart of Wales, is a fantastic place, thanks to its patchwork fields, dense forests and rolling, sheep-dotted hills.
The route becomes increasingly wild and rough as it weaves north into Powys. Spend the night in Rhayader, and you'll need plenty of energy for hiking or mountain biking along the trails.
The North Wales WaySpanning Wales' short but scenic north coast, this route offers road trippers a chance to encounter Welsh history, language and culture in a splendid setting.
Head west through the uncrowded Clwydian Hills until you reach Ruthin, a little town brimming with history,where you can see its restored castle, century-spanning museum and Victorian Ruthin Gaol. Border Country
Tracing the dotted line that separates England and Wales on a map,this border-hugging route will take you to some of Wales' most underrated sites slowly, if you stick to the narrow back roads.
Starting in the border town of Chepstow in Southeast Wales,make your way northward.You can top to admire the roofless ruins of Tintern Abbey and lesser known castes Skenfrith and Grosmont
1. Which route best suits people who enjoy mountain scenery?| A．The Coastal Way. |
| B．The Cambrian Way. |
| C．The North Wales Way |
| D．Border Country. |
| A．It enables travelers to visit a castle. |
| B．It is an area of scenic beauty. |
| C．It offers a glimpse into Welsh culture. |
| D．It is a crowd-free escape from big cities. |
| A．To introduce road trips in Wales. |
| B．To introduce the Welsh landscape. |
| C．To tell about Wales' history. |
| D．To advertise Wales 'tourism industry. |
3 . Several things Beijingers do during wintertime
In winter, Beijing offers the city’s fun-seekers many appealing options, from royal gardens to winter resorts. Your sweet tooth and palate for fine art can also be satisfied by the abundant choices in food and art exhibitions. Here are some recommendations for you.
The Summer Palace was designed as a summer resort for the Emperor Dowager Cixi in the Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911). Recently it has attracted thousands of tourists hoping to catch sight of the setting sun shining through the Seventeen-Arch Bridge over the frozen Kunming Lake.
Mutton hot pot with family and friends.
A weekend at Ice skating & ski resorts.
Surrounded by historical mansions and natural beauty, Shichahai is a must-go scenic area in Beijing. In winter, I he frozen lake becomes n giant ice rink (溜冰场), offering skating, sleigh riding and ice bicycles for beginners who don’t want to miss out on the fun.
Hot spring resort getaway.
It is said that a hot spring bath is good for the body and the soul.
Culture tours at museums.
Going to a museum certainly is much nicer and warmer than staying outdoors. Luckily, cultural agencies like the National Museum and the National Art Museum recently displayed several important exhibitions.
| A．Sightseeing at Summer Palace. |
| B．Add ski resorts to your list of fun. |
| C．As winter chill takes hold in Beijing, hot pot becomes more popular. |
| D．As the temperature goes down, swimming turns out to be a good choice. |
| E．No matter whether you are an experienced skier or not, you can make a perfect holiday there. |
| F．For more information, please go to the National Museum and National Art Museum websites. |
| G．For those who search for relaxation from stresses and strains, the city’s hot spring resorts are life-savers. |
