1 . Since I was born and brought up in a rural town, I have a great interest in nature. Using the chance of studying abroad in my second year at college, I decided to go to Canada just because I wanted to see the beautiful phenomena there. So after I finished the study, I went to Yellowknife in the Northwest. I clearly remember the sixth night in Yellowknife. Suddenly my host mother came to my room around 8 p. m. and told me to change clothes and go outside quickly carrying her camera.
The northern lights were flickering (闪烁)in the sky! I was amazed and just stood there with my mouth open. I forgot to take pictures of the mysterious lights.
Since that night, whenever it was sunny, I went outside at night and looked at the sky. It was so cold that my hands and feet were numb with cold. Actually, the time of my being able to be out was limited. I had to bring her camera back to the house in one hour at the most, for the camera was going to be broken because of the cold temperature.
As I took pictures of the northern lights, I came to find a characteristic movement of the lights. They first appear in the north part of the sky and then they gradually come down to the south. After that, suddenly, they come in the middle of the north and south only for a while, which is the time when the best northern lights can be seen. Since it is only a few seconds for the northern lights to come down to the middle of the sky, it is very hard to get good pictures.
The stronger the sun acts, the better and stronger northern lights flicker in the sky. That’s because they occur from the collision(碰撞)between atmospheric gases and solar wind. Much more solar wind comes to the earth when the sun is active, leading to the best northern lights.
1. Why did the author forget to take pictures?| A．It was freezing cold outside. |
| B．He was shocked by the wonderful sights. |
| C．The lights were flickering in the sky. |
| D．He lost all his feeling in his hands and feet. |
| A．The northern lights came out every night. |
| B．The author took lots of pictures with his camera. |
| C．The author could stay as long as he liked outdoors. |
| D．Cameras will be damaged if exposed too long to coldness. |
| A．They appear in the north part of the sky. |
| B．They rise in the east and set in the west. |
| C．They are between the north and south. |
| D．They come down to the south part of the sky. |
| A．The lights stay in the middle for a very short time. |
| B．The lights of the sun affect the northern lights. |
| C．The lights are caused by the collisions of gases. |
| D．The colours of the lights are determined by the height. |
2 . There are some simple safety tips that you should follow to ensure your visit to Australia is as enjoyable as possible.
On the road
* If you wish to drive in Australia you must hold a current, valid driving license issued in the country in which you live. Carry it with you at all times when driving.
* Always travel no faster than the signed maximum speed limit.
* The driver is not allowed to use a mobile phone while driving in Australia.
* Do not pick up hitchhikers at the side of the road, who get free rides from drivers of passing cars.
At the beach
* Always swim with others.
* Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or in darkness.
In the bush
* Drink plenty of water (allow at least one litre of water per hour of walking) when walking outdoors. Wear sturdy shoes and socks, a hat, sunscreen lotion, comfortable clothing for long bushwalks.
* Never walk alone. Read maps and signs carefully.
* Do not feed or play with native animals. You might get bitten or scratched.
In the Outback
* When planning each day of travel spend some time to calculate how long it will take to drive between destinations. Be realistic about how far you can drive in a day.
* Always carry a current road map.
* Always carry a spare tyre, tools and water.
* During daylight hours always drive with your headlights on low beam, as outback conditions can make it difficult to see oncoming vehicles.
1. If an American wants to drive in Australia, he has to get ________.| A．a car | B．a mobile phone |
| C．a valid Australian driving license | D．a valid American driving license |
| A．Do not pick up strangers when you are driving on the road. |
| B．Do not swim alone or in the dark. |
| C．You are welcome to give food to native animals in the bush. |
| D．When in the outback or in the bush, remember to take a map with you. |
| A．Drink at least one litre of water per hour. |
| B．Be realistic about where you can go. |
| C．When you are driving, you can’t use a mobile phone. |
| D．Eat as much as you can. |
Size: 4,028 square miles
Population: 148,677. The most heavily populated areas are Hilo on the east side and Kailua-Kona on the west.
Temperature: Averages between 71°F and 77°F year around.
Beaches: 47 Golf Courses: 20 Highest Peak: Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet.
Agriculture: The bulk of Hawaii’s farming products are grown and processed on the Big Island, including coffee, macadamia nuts and papaya.
Lodging: 9,655 rooms total; Nightly rates range from$ 35—$ 5,000.
Airports: Hilo International Airport on the east side and Kona International Airport on the west side.
Rental Cars: All of the nationally known rental car companies have locations at Hilo International and Kona International Airports as well as many resorts. In addition, Hilo, Kona and the major resort areas are serviced by taxis.
Resources: Call (800) 648—2441 to order a video, poster, brochures and maps from the Big Island Visitors Bureau．See www.bigisland.org for Updated information.
Shopping: The large shopping centers are in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and the Kohala Coast.
1. The passage is intended to be read by _______.
| A．students | B．businessmen | C．tourists | D．immigrants |
| A．28 | B．32 | C．37 | D．44 |
| A．By train. | B．By air. | C．By rental car. | D．By taxi. |
| A．You can see www.bigisland.org for updated information. |
| B．You can call (800) 648 – 2441 to order some food. |
| C．You can find some courts to play tennis on the island. |
| D．You may pay a high price for spending one night on the island. |
