1 . Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Statistically speaking, it is the largest waterfall in the world. Victoria Falls is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are also close to the border of Botswana. The Zambezi River, which originates in northern Zambia, serves as the falls’ water source.
There are basically two seasons for the Victoria Falls area. The rainy season runs from late November to early April with the remaining months accounting for the dry season. One would imagine that the rainy season with more water would make the falls more spectacular (壮观的), however, the additional water and subsequent mist(水汽) in the air makes it nearly impossible to see the base of the falls.
The months of June and July are probably the best time to view the falls. The water levels are still high enough to show the beauty of the falls, but the amount of water is less, creating less mist and more visibility of the falls.
As you move into the later part of the dry season, August through October, it is quite possible that you will see more rock face than falls. However, this also opens the door for walking across the top of the falls, which can be a unique and exhilarating experience as well.
During the rainy season and high water, Victoria Falls can be a challenge to capture (抓拍) with a camera because of all of the mist in the air. However, this increases the probabilities that you will be able to capture rainbow images around the falls.
The lower water levels can create more dramatic pictures with various rocks cropping out between the falls. You should also be able to see the canyon and base of the falls. You will also be able to walk across the top of the falls and take images down the face of the falls.
1. Where does the water source of Victoria Falls originate?| A．In northern Zambia. | B．In southern Zimbabwe. |
| C．At the border of Botswana. | D．Between the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| A．From November to April. | B．From August to October. |
| C．In the months of June and July. | D．In the months of May and June. |
| A．A camera. | B．High water. |
| C．The rainy season. | D．All of the mist in the air. |
| A．Travel strategies at different water levels. | B．Challenges for falls travelers to overcome. |
| C．Photo opportunities in different seasons. | D．Different views of the falls all the year round. |
In this region of Yunnan, the Naxi people make up the
3 . The most exciting storms are the ones with flashes of lightning.Unfortunately,those are scarce,unless you are near the Catatumbo River in Northwestern Venezuela.Here,nature's grandest sound and light show is often seen, because it happens about 160 nights a year.And it lasts for as long as 10 hours at a time.And unlike other lightning storms that cause just one or two flashes,this one is with as many as 280 per hour.It is the highest in the world. Besides,each one of them is so powerful that each can power every light bulb in South America.Not surprisingly,they can be seen for almost 250 miles.Fishermen and sailors often use them to guide them across the waters during dark nights.
What's even more surprising is that the lightning has been happening above the same spot where the Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo for thousands of years.The best part is that the show is different every night.That's because the color of the lightning changes,depending on the amount of water in the atmosphere.On dry nights,the lightning appears white.When the air is not dry,it helps split up the bright light into red,orange and even purple.
Strangely enough,though this has been going on for centuries,scientists have still not been able to figure out the cause of this phenomenon.Some say that the storms are the result of the interaction of the area's unusual topography（地貌）,wind and heat.Others,however,believe that the storms are caused by a kind of gas in the area.The locals simply think that it is the "spirit of Catatumbo" that lights up the night sky.
1. According to Paragraph 1,if we say something is scarce,we probably mean .| A．it is far away | B．it is very terrible |
| C．it can be hardly seen | D．it can be very dangerous |
| A．people daren't go out at night |
| B．it rains heavily almost every day |
| C．lightning is used to power light bulbs |
| D．storms with flashes of lightning are common |
| A．The spot of the lightning |
| B．The air of the lightning spot |
| C．The color of the environment |
| D．The level of water in the Catatumbo River |
| A．scientists will no longer study the lightning storms there |
| B．locals know about the lightning storms better than scientists |
| C．heat in Northwestern Venezuela is different from any other place |
| D．the reason why such lightning storms happen there is still unknown |
| 地名 | 云南省（南部美丽的云彩） |
| 位置 | 最云南的省份 |
| 面积 | 393,000平方公里 |
| 民族 | 拥有25个少数民族 |
| 地理特征 | 拥有高山，湖泊和热带雨林 |
| 稀有动物 | 被誉为“动物王国”，有金丝猴，亚洲象等 |
| 植物 | “世界花园”，拥有世界上一半的植物物种 |
| 自然奇观 | 石林、虎跳峡等 |
2.词数100词左右。
参考词汇：石林Stone Forest 虎跳峡Tiger Leaping Gorge 物种species
热带雨林rainforest 少数民族ethnic minority
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5 . Here are some undiscovered places around the world, which will surely impress you.
Byblos, Lebanon
This quiet settlement north of Beirut in Lebanon has been around a really long lime. Today, its rich history is well-represented in its ruins, which include ancient temples and tombs and Neolithic houses. Three sites in particular steal the show: the restored Roman amphitheatre (圆形剧场）, the grand 12th century Crusader castle, and the beautiful]y restored medieval open market.
Carreg Cennen, Carmarthenshire, Wales
The ruins of Carreg Cennen must be among the most noticeable sites in Wales. Carreg Cennen is defended by two drawbridges and three gate towers, although it hasn’t seen much action since it was partly damaged in 1462, during the Wars of the Roses. However, one rare feature of the castle is unchanged. Ifs the stone passage that leads down to a natural cave underneath.
Providence, Rhode Island, US
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US. Its capital, Providence, has many of the attractions. Ivy League member Brown University and the famous Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) give the city a strong student influence. Up on College Hill, east of the Providence River, are streets lined with 18th century wood framed houses.
Sequoia National Park, California, US
Not content with having the worlds tallest (coast redwoods) and oldest (bristlecone pines), California is also home to the largest tree—the giant sequoia (红杉树). It grows only to its lull size in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many of these trees are found in the Yosemite National Park, but for more quality time with the trees, it's best to head south to the far less known Sequoia National Park, which gets a quarter of Yosemite’s visitor numbers.
1. What do Byblos and Carreg Cennen have in common?| A．They were once destroyed in the history. |
| B．They are defended by two drawbridges. |
| C．They are most famous for their temples. |
| D．They are located in the same country. |
| A．Lebanon | B．California |
| C．Rhode Island | D．Carmarthenshire |
| A．People who love walking in streets. |
| B．People who are interested in visiting castles. |
| C．People who want to feel a strong student influence. |
| D．People who are interested in tress. |
| A．Rhode Island is the smallest state in the world. |
| B．Yosemite National Park is located in California. |
| C．The Carreg Cennen castle has been totally changed. v |
| D．The medieval open market in Byblos has never been destroyed. |
