2 . Galapagos Islands: Paradise for Animals

A trip to the Galapagos Islands will be the journey of your lifetime. The Islands are a group of 12 volcanic islands and numerous islets and rocks, off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The area of the islands is 3,086 square miles, consisting of 13 major islands, of which 5 are inhabited. The islands are hilly, rising to a height of 5,000 feet. Even though the Galapagos Islands were formed about 4 to 5 million years ago, volcanoes are still active.

The islands have been known by many different names, including the “Enchanted Islands” because of the way in which the strong and swift currents make navigation difficult. Legend has it that there are sea monsters living on the islands. They control the sea. The islands are also named Giant Land Tortoises for those giant tortoises that live there.

The Island s interesting volcanic geology, as well as its rich plants and animals have been admired and studied by numerous travelers, scientists, and naturelovers. Scientists are still faced with a mystery how such a large diversity of species could develop in a remote location like the Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos has been called “a living museum and showcase of evolution”. The Islands are famous for their unique species, which are not found elsewhere. Best known are the huge tortoise and some species of lizards.The animals on the islands influenced British nature scientist Charles Darwin’ s ideas about evolution. He visited the islands in 1830. It was here that he made the major part of his observation that led to his theories on evolution and The Origin of Species. Many scientists have since carried out research on the islands.

The Galapagos Islands are ideal for adventure activities, whether your favorite adventures are snorkeling, kayaking, hiking or others, the Galapagos has activities for everyone.

Marrakech (马拉喀什) is the fourth largest city in Morocco and has a rich architectural heritage. However, an earthquake in September caused serious damage     1     some of them in the city.

The Medina district, the old cultural center of Marrakech, was one of them.     2     (add) to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985, the district is enclosed by 900-year-old walls built of red sandstone that once     3     (defend) the city against danger. However, large parts of these walls were damaged in the earthquake and long sections now show deep cracks     4     other parts have collapsed.

Apart from ancient walls, Morocco World News reported that the city’s Kharbouch Mosque (清真寺) was almost     5     (entire) destroyed. Before the earthquake, it was a cultural center for the city     6     dancers and storytellers performed. A local resident     7     (tell) The New Arab that the mosque dates back to the 17th century.

After visiting Marrakech     8     (follow) the destruction, Eric Falt, an officer at UNESCO, stressed that it was necessary to immediately plan for the     9     (construct) of damaged cultural assets (资产). The earthquake’s impact on Marrakech’s cultural heritage     10     (expect) to be a long-term challenge that will require careful restoration efforts, noted Morocco World News.

6 . The Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park in East China’s Zhejiang Province, founded in 2005, is the country’s first national wetland park.

Situated in the western part of Hangzhou, Xixi is only 5 kilometers away from the West Lake, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site in the city.

Water is the soul of Xixi. With an area of 11.5 square kilometers, the park is mostly covered by streams, ponds, lakes and swamps, with six long rivers forming a tangled network of waterways. Nearly 70 percent of the park is water and the length of waterways inside the park surpasses 100 kilometers.

Additionally, about 85 percent of the land in Xixi is covered by plants such as reeds, willows and persimmon(柿子)trees and a variety of wildlife living among them, making Xixi a great platform for animal and bird watching, scientific research and education.

Because of its abundant water resources and species, Xixi Wetland is an important part of Hangzhou’s ecosystem and helps purify water, relieve flooding, regulate the climate and maintain biodiversity. Nestled in an urban area of the city, it is dubbed “the natural purifier of Hangzhou”.

As well as providing a haven for people to enjoy the region’s natural charm, Xixi Wetland is also a cultural treasure trove(宝藏)which has been depicted and extolled by scholars throughout history.

Xixi was a land of idyllic beauty and a place of seclusion(隐居)in the eyes of ancient people. Inspired by the elegance of Xixi, many literati(文人)—including Su Dongpo, Tang Bohu, Dong Qichang and Yu Dafu —created numerous literary works about the place. Some of them are showcased on the inscribed boards and tablets dotted throughout the wetland park.

The Xixi Wetland was not quite so well-known to people until the famous Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang used it as a backdrop for part of his 2008 film If You Are the One, adding the wetland to the list of must-visit tourist attractions in Hangzhou.

Today, the pristine(未开发的)scenery, the rustic(淳朴的)charm of a country lifestyle and the ancient traditions of Xixi lure tourists from around the world.

10 . Frank Lloyd Wright probably is the greatest architect that the United States has ever produced. He was very gifted and had a natural ability to design buildings. His buildings were not only beautiful, but they were also practical and useful. They fit their purposes very well. Wright’s churches, for example, make people feel like thinking and praying. His office buildings make people enjoy working, and his houses make people feel comfortable at home. However, Frank Lloyd Wright’s beautiful, practical and useful buildings are not the only reason that he is famous. There is another reason.

Frank Lloyd Wright is called the greatest American architect because he started an American style in architecture. Most of the architecture in the United States before Wright was really European, not American. Wright’s buildings do not look like old European buildings. They have their own style. Wright’s ideas about style are still used in the United States and in other parts of the world.

The most important idea in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Style of Architecture is that a building must fit its purpose and the land around it. His houses are often called “grass-land houses” because their lines are similar to the lines on the grassland. Both the lines of the grassland and the lines of Wright’s house are parallel (平行的) to the horizon, the place where earth and sky seem to meet. They are horizontal lines. Most European style houses, in contrast, have many vertical lines that form 90°angles with the horizon.