1 . Location
St Helena is one of the remotest islands on Earth. The subtropical (亚热带的) British Overseas Territory sits in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,200 miles from the west coast of Africa and 1,800 miles from the east coast of South America.
Size Population
St Helena is only 16 km long and 9 km wide and the population is 5,000. This is 1/3 the size of the Isle of Wight, and the same size as Disney World Orlando. This is also the same size as San Francisco-yet the island has just 0.5% of San Francisco’s population. With an extremely low-crime community, you can freely explore the island’s natural and built attractions in peace.
Climate
As a subtropical island, St Helena’s temperature is 15-28℃ all year round. While the four seasons are not recognized on St Helena, the “cooler months” are generally June to September and the “hotter months” are December to March. St Helena is free from extreme weather events, with even thunderstorms only occurring perhaps once a decade.
Accessibility
Until 2017, St Helena did not have an airport and was only accessible by sea. Reaching the island meant a five-day ship voyage from Cape Town, South Africa. However, since October 2017, the island’s first and only airport has enabled passengers to reach the island in just a six-hour flight.
1. In what aspect are St Helena and San Francisco alike?A.Climate. | B.Population. | C.Crime rate. | D.Area. |
A.Tropical. | B.Mild. | C.Dry. | D.Extreme. |
A.By plane. | B.By car. | C.By ship. | D.By train. |
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。
The ecological environment in the Sanjiangyuan National Park in northwest China’s Qinghai Province
The park delivers over 60 billion cubic meters of high-quality freshwater downstream every year,
According to Losang Tsering,
The Sanjiangyuan region is a typical
3 . Must-See Destinations in 2024
Are you ready to explore the world in 2024? Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.
SpainThrow yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.
MontenegroDespite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.
CroatiaDiscover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Poreč are just waiting to be explored...
South AfricaExplore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.
With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.
1. What do Spain and Montenegro have in common?A.They are both praised by tourists. |
B.They both have world heritage cities. |
C.They are known for their architectures. |
D.They both own beaches and rich history. |
A.Spain. | B.South Africa. |
C.Montenegro. | D.Croatia. |
A.A website. | B.A guidebook. |
C.A novel. | D.A magazine. |
Liulichang Cultural Street is known throughout China and the world for its ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, rubbings, ink stones and ink. The street, which is only 750 meters long,
Liulichang’s history can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty,
In 1979, the Chinese government
I remember that every year in lunar December in my hometown, Xinyang, each family begins to prepare bunches of bacon and sausage hanging from yard to yard
Xinyang, located on the boundary between the north and the south, is rich in rice, wheat and fertile land due to its unique
You’ll never become fully conscious of how much you value it until you
When you are going to visit Beijing, it’s likely that you’ll want to visit the Tiananmen Square.
The Temple of Heaven, including Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple), the Beijing Temple of Confucius and Beijing Zoo,
The Great Wall isn’t located in the city itself, but if you have made the trip to Beijing, you can’t leave
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
When it comes to traveling to Tibet, you should know
A trip to Tibet can offer a unique travel experience, filled
1. What did NASA call the area?
A.The Light of Venezuela. |
B.The Lightning Capital of the World. |
C.The Never-ending Storm of Catatumbo. |
A.The warm ocean current. |
B.The strong mountain winds. |
C.The special geographical location. |
A.About 12%. | B.About 30%. | C.About 70%. |
A.The man is afraid of lightening very much. |
B.The locals are surprisingly fearless of lighting. |
C.About 12,000 American people get hit in their lifetime. |
9 . At ancient sites across the Amazon River basin, mysterious plots of unusually rich soil dot (点缀) the landscape. Scientists have long debated the origin of this “dark earth”, which is darker in color than surrounding soils and richer in carbon. Some people think this dark earth formed naturally, but the latest research has shown that modern Kuikuro people in Brazil create similar soil around their villages on purpose, which adds evidence to the idea that long-ago Amazons deliberately made such soil too. Perron, an earth scientist at MIT, reviewed interviews of Kuikuro people conducted by a Kuikuro filmmaker in 2018 and found that Kuikuro villagers actively make dark earth by using ash, food bits and controlled burns. “When you plant in hilly land, the soil is weak,” explained elder Kanu Kuikuro in one of the interviews. That is why we throw the ash, manioc peelings and manioc pulp. When comparing soil samples from ancient and modern sites, researchers found “striking similarities” — both were far less acidic than surrounding soils and contained higher levels of plant-friendly nutrients.
Analyses also revealed that dark earth holds twice the amount of carbon as surrounding soils on average. Scans (扫描) of the Xingu region suggest that the area is dotted with dark earth, and that hold as much as about 9 million tons of carbon — the annual carbon emissions of a small, industrialized country. “This number could roughly equal the annual carbon emissions of the United States when all dark earth across the Amazon is taken into consideration,” Perron says.
Figuring out the true value of carbon stored in the Amazon’s dark earth will require more data. Still, the research has significant influences on the Amazon’s future. The technique highlights how ancient people were able to live in the Amazon by developing sustainable farming that doubled as a carbon-storing technique. With more and more greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere, it could also provide a blueprint for developing methods of sustainably locking atmospheric carbon in the soil, helping fight climate change.
1. What can we infer from the dark earth across the Amazon River basin?A.They are more acidic than surrounding soils. |
B.They contain more organic nutrients. |
C.They formed naturally. |
D.They contain less carbon. |
A.To explain the difficulty of protecting dark earth. |
B.To show the wide distribution of dark earth in Amazon. |
C.To stress the huge carbon-storing capability of dark earth. |
D.To reveal the large carbon emissions of the United States. |
A.The importance of developing sustainable farming. |
B.The advanced farming technology in ancient tomes. |
C.A possible solution to climate change. |
D.A way of green agriculture. |
A.Urgency of Sustainable Development | B.Facts About the Dark Earth |
C.Advantages of the Dark Earth | D.Wisdom of Ancient Amazons |
10 . Top Wonders of the World
From India to Rome, these sights will inspire your next historical vacation.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed from 1632 to 1648, the property covers 42 acres, including its beautiful gardens.
Best time to go: Late spring and early summer in this part of India has often severe heat. Then come monsoons. November to February is your best chance for pleasant weather. The sunrises here are highly admired.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is the world’s longest wall and one of the most famous landmarks in China. Dating back to about 700 BCE, it stretches over 13,000 miles and was designed to protect the country from invaders.
Best time to go: Plan for a spring or fall trip when the weather is nicer and fewer people visit. Summertime is often hot and crowded, and winter can be extremely cold in northern China.
Petra
Located in the Kingdom of Jordan, Petra was built directly into the cliffside around 312 BCE by the Nabataeans. The city includes temples, tombs, and its most well-known building — the Treasury.
Best time to go: Summer can get very hot in Jordan, and winter is much colder than you may realize. Weatherwise, aim for spring or fall.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum remains Rome’s top attraction. Built in the first century by Emperor Vespasian, the massive theater spans 620 by 513 feet, which would hold 80,000 people.
Best time to go: You’ll find fewer tourists there during Rome’s low season (winter), weekdays and during the opening hour or near closing time. If you show up in summer at midday, it’s going to be hot!
1. What’s the best time to travel to Taj Mahal?A.March. | B.July. | C.October. | D.December. |
A.Taj Mahal. | B.The Great Wall. | C.Petra. | D.The Colosseum. |
A.In a research paper. | B.In a travel brochure. |
C.In a science magazine. | D.In a geography textbook. |