2 . 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。

Tibet, which is famous for its special culture and food, lies in the southwest of China. It is home to about 3.2 million Tibetans, making it one of the country’s     1     (large) minorities (少数民族). In recent years, Tibet     2     (gain) recognition and appreciation across the globe. With some of the world’s tallest mountains, Tibet attracts many people     3     want to climb Mount Everest.

When it comes to traveling to Tibet, you should know     4     best time to travel there is from April to October every year. If you plan to visit Tibet, it is important     5     (bring) enough clothes. Moreover, besides credit cards,     6     is necessary to bring some cash. To discover more about the cultural traditions of Tibet, it is     7     (high) advised to have a traditional Tibetan meal.     8     (visit) can buy some statue crafts in markets and shops.

A trip to Tibet can offer a unique travel experience, filled     9     rich cultural traditions and beautiful natural scenery. It will also offer us a chance to find out that     10     (recognize) and keeping our differences is important.

4 . If you want to understand China but can’t afford an expensive international flight, these four books can give you a complete overview of the country.

River Town

River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler — This book is a journal of the author’s two years spent teaching English in a small town called Fuling, situated on the banks of the Yangtze River. Hessler writes about his experiences living in a foreign culture and observing the lives of the town’s residents. The book was published in 2001 and has won several awards, including the Kiriyama Prize.

Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China

It is a book that tells the story of China’s modernization. It was written by Ezra Vogel and published in 2011. The author describes how Deng Xiaoping’s policies led to significant changes in China’s economy and society. The book has received critical honors and won the Lionel Gelber Prize in 2012.

The Search for Modern China by Jonathan Spence

This book is a comprehensive history of China from the Ming dynasty to the present day. The author, a prominent scholar of Chinese history, provides a detailed analysis of the social, cultural, and political changes that have taken place in China over the past 500 years. The book was first put out in 1990 and has since been revised and updated several times. This book was the top bestseller for years.

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China

Written by Leslie T. Chang, this book, published in 2008, is a reportage on the lives of young women who leave their rural homes to work in factories in China’s cities. Chang, a former New York Times journalist, interviewed hundreds of factory girls to provide insight into the social and economic changes in China.

1. What type of literature is River Town?

A．A travel guide of Fuling.	B．A personal diary.
C．A science fiction.	D．A reference book.

2. Which statement is right about The Search for Modern China by Jonathan Spence?

A．It received positive reviews.

B．It was published 500 years ago.

C．It was written by a history teacher.

D．It has remained the same since its first publication.

3. Which book is written by a reporter?

A．River Town

B．The Search for Modern China

C．Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China

D．Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China

5 . Where did the woman visit the rainforest last year?

A．In Oregon.

B．In Alaska.

C．In Washington.

6 . 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.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

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.

3. When is the best time to see the northern lights?

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.

4. Why is it hard for the author to take good pictures?

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.

7 . 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.

2. If you are interested in history, you are advised to visit________.

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

3. What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

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.