1 . The most attractive national parks on earth provide the most quickest way to discover how amazing the planet is. Visits to the greatest national parks in the world make you experience breathtaking natural wonders.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Anyone who has been to Arenal will probably tell you that “It’s paradise”. Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the middle of Costa Rica, Central America. The park has a continuous active volcano. In fact, you can see lava pouring down its sides. Hot springs surround this volcano. Numerous hidden waterfalls and animals-filled forests also surround the volcano.
Yellowstone National Park
America’s Yellowstone is a land of great things. First of all, this is the world’s first natural park. It is also the continen’s largest volcanic one. Yellowstone provides home to the largest group of bison (野牛) in the world. It seems like Yellowstone shows the creme de la creme (精英) of the American west.
Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park
You are going to China, and in addition to the Great Wall, you probably need to visit a great national park. You shouldn’t worry since you are pretty well covered. The Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is more than magical. It stands among five impressive colored lakes. You will enjoy watching the fresh and clear blue sky above; while the park’s evergreen forests are full of life and energy.
Kilimanjaro National Park
You are in Tanzania again, and you probably might have known Mt. Kilimanjaro. Most of all, it is Africa’s highest mountain. All enthusiastic mountaineers dream to climb to the top of it. As a result, the Kilimanjaro National Park is most popular with them. Since great grasslands and wildlife surround the mountain, your trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro becomes more fascinating and inspiring.
1. What do Arenal Volcano National Park and Yellowstone National Park have in common?| A．They have splendid volcanoes | B．They are full of great grasslands. |
| C．Their evergreen forests are lively. | D．They are home to African wildlife. |
| A．Costa Rica. | B．China. | C．America. | D．Tanzania. |
| A．Arenal Volcano National Park. | B．Kilimanjaro National Park. |
| C．Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park. | D．Yellowstone National Park |
Jiuzhai Valley. or Jiuzhaigou, is a picturesque fairyland, featuring fascinating scenery of colorful lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and mountains. People say that if there should be a wonderland on earth, Jiuzhaigou National Park must be one.
Jiuzhai Valley is
3 . A bridge is a structure constructed to connect two places without blocking the way beneath it. Below are four famous bridges in the world.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is in Venice, Italy, which was designed by Antonio Contino. The bridge’s construction was begun in 1600 and completed in 1603. The bridge was supposed to be the last view for prisoners, who would sigh at the beauty of Venice, before being taken to prison. That is why it is called the Bridge of Sighs.
Tsing Ma Bridge
The bridge is named after the two islands it connects—Ma Wan and Tsing Yi in Hong Kong. It has both a roadway and a railway and is the longest suspension bridge (悬索桥) with two decks. The bridge is 4,518 feet long and 676 feet tall, which was designed by Mott MacDonald. The construction was begun in 1992 and completed in 1997.
Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is situated in London, which is a combination of the drawbridge (开合桥) and suspension bridge. Designed by Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry, it was built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge stretches across the River Thames near the Tower of London. The drawbridge is drawn about 1,000 times a year.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge joins the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, whose chief designer was Jbseph Strauss. The bridge has been named the most beautiful and most photographed bridge in the world. It is 8,981 feet long, 746 feet tall and 90 feet wide. Construction of the bridge was begun in 1933 and completed in 1937. In 1987, the bridge was named a California historic landmark.
1. What do we know about the Bridge of Sighs?| A．It used to connect a prison. | B．The beauty of Venice can be photographed. |
| C．It was used as a prison. | D．It was the longest bridge. |
| A．The Bridge of Sighs. | B．The Tsing Ma Bridge. |
| C．The Tower Bridge. | D．The Golden Gate Bridge |
| A．It connects two famous oceans. | B．It was designed by two famous architects. |
| C．It gets its name for its beautiful views. | D．It is a historic landmark in California. |
4 . 4 Best Places to Travel in 2023
2023 is the year when travel returns in a big way. To get you started, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to travel in 2023. All you need to do is pick the place that appeals to you.
Copenhagen
With its fantastic houses, clean streets and colorful architecture, Copenhagen is regarded as the most livable city on the earth. Named the World Capital of Architecture for 2023, Copenhagen will offer a series of major artistic events and programs sure to delight architects and design lovers.
Bhutan
For travelers with a sense of adventure and a love of discovery, Bhutan has always been a must-go destination. In 2023, travelers can once again explore the Trans Bhutan Trail, which runs 250 miles from east to west, offering visits to the century-old communities along the journey. The trail spans (横跨)18 major bridges and national parks and connects more than 400 historic and cultural sites.
Bordeaux
The coming years will be sporty in the historical wine region of Bordeaux in France. In 2023, the city will host the Rugby World Cup, an intense and stressful game. Beyond sports, Bordeaux is one of the favorite historical cities, with more than 350 structures that are either nationally or regionally listed as historical monuments.
Namibia
Wildlife and adventure lovers looking for a unique path in African Safari trips should head straight to Namibia in 2023 — this country in southern Africa is the perfect place to travel to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. On the wildlife front, you may see lions along with giraffes and elephants.
1. What is Copenhagen well-known for?| A．The natural landscape. | B．The adventure travel. |
| C．Eye-catching architecture. | D．Famous art designers. |
| A．Modern communities. | B．Cultural relics. |
| C．Historical wine regions. | D．National monuments. |
| A．Copenhagen. | B．Bhutan. | C．Bordeaux. | D．Namibia. |
5 . The State of Colorado has four of the best parks out of the 58 national parks in the United States. The parks have some of the best scenery of all the national parks.
Black Canyon (峡谷) of Gunnison National Park
This park offers the most breathtaking views from up in the mountains into the canyons below. While exploring the canyons, you will find that the walls drop nearly straight down into the narrow valleys of the snake-like rivers below. Visitors are offered more than 100 camping sites, and a lot of bird species and many animals are native to the area.
Rocky Mountain National Park
It is the only national park in the north central region in the state of Colorado. Elevations in this park are anywhere from 8,000 feet to 14,259 feet at the top of Longs Peak. While traveling throughout this park you will notice two very different climates because of the difference the upper peaks of the Rocky Mountains make. You can enjoy 359 miles of hiking trails, a lot of places for camping, horse-back riding and beautiful scenery.
Mesa Verde National Park
This is probably the most interesting national park, offering a fascinating trip back in time to 600 AD up to 1300 AD．This park was declared a protected national park in 1906 because of the cliff dwellings(住所) that were found throughout the area, which were once home to American Indians. Many of these dwellings can be walked through, while you imagine what each room may have been used for so many years ago.
Great Sand Dunes (沙丘) National Park
The Great Sand Dunes National Park lies in south central Colorado, about 127 miles from Pueblo. This park has the tallest sand dunes in all of North America and has trails for hiking. The natural sandy beaches around the small rivers and lakes are good for swimmers.
1. What’s the most breathtaking thing in the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park?| A．The animals. | B．The walls. |
| C．The hiking trails. | D．The camping sites. |
| A．the Mesa Verde National Park |
| B．the Rocky Mountain National Park |
| C．the Great Sand Dunes National Park |
| D．the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park |
| A．Telling people some traveling information in Colorado. |
| B．Persuading people to visit Colorado when in America. |
| C．Introducing the best four parks in Colorado to people. |
| D．Showing people which park is the best of the four in Colorado. |
6 . Winter Wonders in Qinling Mountain Range
Central China’s Qinling Mountain Range divides the country north to south. In winter, the mountains are covered with white snow and ice. The mountains are about an hour-and-a-half drive from Shanxi’s provincial capital, Xian, which was home to several Chinese dvnasties. Here are three winter destinations south of the range in Shaanxi.
Going wild in Yangxian County
Crested ibises (朱鹮) fly in the sky on the mountain’s southwest. There are only 5, 000 worldwide. Half live in Hangzhong’s Yangian after decades of protetion. Spring is the busiest vsiting season. Birdwatchers from Japan and South Korea fly thousands of miles to Yangxian to see the creatures.
Tickets: 40 yuan ( $6)
Tickets hotline: (86) 916-821-2853
Drinking soup in Shiquan County
Shiquan is just one of the counties south of the Qinling Mountains dating back over 2, 000 years. Shiquan has preserved the custom of serving dinners individually as guests arrive. Residents offer them paotang soup, which is a local dish. Shiquan paotang was oficially listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage form in 2018.
Cost: 60 yuan ( $9) per meal per person
Snow on show at Jinsi Canyon
Jinsi Canyon on the Qinling range’s southeastern side is covered with white snow in winter. The whole canyon is like a natural ice-sculpture exhibition hall. Travelers who cross the Jinsi Canyon can call at friendly farmhouses and enjoy hot pot. Those who make the journey will discover the winter beauty of Qinling Mountains.
Tickets: 90 yuan( $14)
Tickets hotline: ( 86) 914 -656 6888
1. How much will a boy and his parents pay if they want to watch crested ibises?| A．$18. | B．$27. | C．80 yuan. | D．270 yuan. |
| A．Viewing flying creatures. |
| B．Ice-sculpture exhibition halls. |
| C．The ceremonious welcoming custom. |
| D．Provincial-level intangible cultural heritage local dish. |
| A．Climbing its southeastern side. |
| B．Individually tasting typical local soup. |
| C．Visiting farmhouses and enjoying hot pot. |
| D．Playing in the breathtaking snowy scenery. |
7 . Death Valley is one of the most famous deserts in the United States, covering a wide area with its alkali（碱性的）sand. Almost 20 percent of this area is well below sea level, and Badwater, a salt water pool, is about 280 feet below sea level and the lowest point in the United States.
Long ago the Panamint Indians called this place “Tomesha”— the land of fire. Death Valley’s present name dates back to 1849, when a group of miners coming across from Nevada became lost in its unpleasantness and hugeness and their adventure turned out to be a sad story. Today Death Valley has been declared a National Monument(纪念碑) and is crossed by several well-marked roads where good services can be found easily. Luckily the change created by human settlement has hardly ruined the special beauty of this place.
Here nature created a lot of surprising, almost like the sights on the moon, ever-changing as the frequent wind moves the sand about, showing the most unusual colors. One of the most astonishing and variable parts of Death Valley is the Devil’ s Golf Course, where it seems hard for one to tell reality from terrible dreams. Sand sculptures(沙雕) stand on a frightening ground, as evening shadows move and lengthen.
1. _______ is the lowest place in the desert.| A．Tomesha | B．Death Valley |
| C．Nevada | D．Badwater |
| A．an Indian name | B．the death of the miners |
| C．the local people | D．a National Movement |
| A．no one had ever known the desert before the miners |
| B．it’s still not easy to travel across the desert |
| C．people can find gas-stations, cafes and hotels in the desert |
| D．people have changed the natural sight of the desert |
| A．appreciates | B．is fearful of |
| C．dislikes | D．is tired of |
