1 . Canadians are blessed with an abundance of natural wonders with enough lakes, mountains and rivers to explore for a lifetime. We’ve also got some of the most amazing waterfalls on Earth.
Horseshoe Falls Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls are the most famous waterfalls in Canada — and understandably so. Actually they are made up of three different falls, and the fittingly named Horseshoe Falls is the only one located on the Canadian side, which is the most powerful in North America. Multiple viewing options are available including tourist ships and sightseeing buses.
Nailicho (Nirginia Falls) Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories
Coming in at twice the height of Niagara Falls, this massive waterfall is located on the South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories. The remote location means it receives only about 1,000 visitors per year who must make their way by either boat or floatplane.
Takakkaw Falls — Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Takakkaw translated from Cree loosely means “the magnificent (壮丽的)”, and it’s a suitable word for the second-highest waterfall in Canada. After a steep drive up a winding road, Takakkaw Falls is only a short distance from the parking lot along a wheelchair accessible path.
Bridal Veil Falls — Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia
Pretty and delicate, Bridal Veil Falls is located just east of Chilliwack, British Columbia, and really does look like its name, with water gently pouring over smooth rock. An easy 15-minute walk to the waterfall takes you through rich leaves. Tables are available to have a meal outdoors, and there are lots of opportunities for viewing wildlife along the way.
1. What do we know about Horseshoe Falls?| A．It is easily accessible. |
| B．It consists of three falls. |
| C．It limits tourist numbers. |
| D．It crosses North America. |
| A．By tourist ship. | B．By cable car. |
| C．By floatplane. | D．By car. |
| A．Swim. | B．Camp. | C．Picnic. | D．Hunt. |
2 . Ho Khanh is a middle-aged farmer, living in a village on the edge of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. What is special about him is that he has discovered Son Doong, the largest cave in the world.
“I first found the cave about thirty years ago, in 1991,” he says. “I was out collecting firewood near the national park. My family were very poor, so I decided to go deeper into the forest to find some aloe, which is very valuable. Not many people went that far into the forest because they were afraid of the wild animals.”
Soon Khanh lost his way. “I sat down with my back to a huge round rock,” he says. “Then I heard the sound of a strong wind and running water coming from behind me.” He found the entrance to a huge cave, with a wide river coming out of it. Khanh thought he was walking into a great cave. With no ropes or lights, he did not go further into it.
Khanh’s story spread like wildfire, but not everyone believed him. “I wanted to prove that I was telling the truth, but I couldn’t remember the way to the cave.” Then one morning early in the winter of 2006, a group of cavers from Britain came to ask Khanh for help, as they had heard about his discovery fifteen years before.
Khanh agreed to help the team to find the cave, but after three days in the jungle, they lost their way. “I just couldn’t remember where it was,” he says. The team came back twice, but each time they were beaten by the thick jungle. Finally the cavers left.
In 2009, Khanh headed to the jungle one cold winter’s morning. “I stopped by a big round rock,” he says. “There was the same strong wind, the sound of water running — I knew I’d found the cave at long last.” Soon the British cavers returned and followed Khanh on a six-hour trip deep into the jungle. On April 14 they found Son Doong.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．How Son Doong was discovered. | B．How Son Doong got its name. |
| C．A young farmer in Vietnam. | D．A national park in Vietnam. |
| A．looking for aloe | B．collecting firewood |
| C．catching some animals | D．cutting down trees in the forest |
| A．They doubted it. | B．They believed it. |
| C．They were uncertain of it. | D．They had little interest in it. |
3 . Fort Smith National Historic Site
At the Fort Smith National Historic Site you can walk where the Mexican-American War and the Civil War soldiers drilled, pause along the Trail of Tears, and stand where justice was served to some of the most horrible outlaws (歹徒) of the Wild West. The park includes:
Trail of Tears Overlook
Walk along the great Arkansas River and enjoy exhibit panels that tell the story of the Five Civilized Tribes that were forcibly remove to Indian Territory. The walking path begins from the parking lot and follows along the Arkansas River to Belle Point.
Belle Point (Site of First Fort Smith)
Established in 1817 at an area overlooking the meeting point of the Arkansas River and the Poteau River, it had been named Belle Point, French for “beautiful place,” by 18th-century French fur trappers. Visitors will enjoy a scenic view of the two rivers and are able to walk the foundation remains of the First Fort Smith.
Commissary (杂货店) (Site of Second Fort Smith)
The oldest building still standing in Fort Smith is the Commissary, the site of the Second Fort Smith. During the Federal Court period, Judge Parker’s private office was located upstairs. Today, you can visit the Commissary as it looked in the 1850s when it supplied the army with food items. You can also see the reconstruction of the Fort Smith Gallows where a surprisingly large number of outlaws met their fate at the end of a rope.
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located in the historic barracks (兵营) / courthouse / jail (监狱) building. The barracks was built in 1851 and was changed into a courthouse and jail in 1872. In 1888 a new jail building was built next to it. Here visitors can see Judge Parker’s restored courtroom, the “Hell on the Border” jail, as well as exhibits and videos on the operation of the Federal Court and its impact on Indian Territory.
Price: $10 (Adults 16+), FREE (Ages 0-15), $35 Annual Pass
1. Where can visitors learn about the history of the forced removals?| A．At the site of the Second Fort Smith. |
| B．On the way to Belle Point from the car park. |
| C．In the historic barracks / courthouse / jail building. |
| D．At the meeting point of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers. |
| A．Tour the oldest grocery store in Fort Smith. |
| B．See the restored Fort Smith Gallows. |
| C．Explore Judge Parker’s bedroom. |
| D．Visit the courtroom and the jail. |
| A．$10. | B．$20. | C．$35. | D．$70. |
4 . Depths of our Earth hold great wonders. Below we explore four deepest places on Earth.
Veryovkina Cave, Georgia
Its entrance is located 2,285 meters above sea level. In 2018, scientists reached its bottom at 2,212 meters down. They squeezed through tiny openings to get from one cave to another. Rockfalls and floods waited secretly at every turn. Scientists could develop new medicines from microorganisms found in cave samples. Caves also record ancient life and past climates.
The Mariana Trench, the Pacific Ocean
The Mariana Trench, with the maximum depth of 11,034 meters, is the deepest part of Earth’s surface. Pressure there is intolerable, but creatures like sea cucumbers (海参) still exist. Scientists exploring it can gain deeper insights into how plates move and why earthquakes and volcanoes occur.
The Dead Sea, the Middle East
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on land at about 1,400 feet (about 400 meters) below sea level. It’s nearly ten times saltier than ocean water, so you literally can’t sink in the Dead Sea! Scientists think it could go dry in a few decades. Despite its name, the Dead Sea holds life. A few kinds of algae (藻类) and bacteria love its salty water.
Lake Baikal, Russia
At the depth of 1,642 meters, Lake Baikal is the deepest inland body of water. The Baikal seal is the only known seal that lives in this world’s deepest freshwater lake. Scientists study the lake not only for the solid stuff beneath it that records climate history but because it’s in a zone where a plate is splitting apart, causing earthquakes.
1. What do we know about Veryovkina Cave?| A．It was discovered in 2018. | B．Its pressure is far from bearable. |
| C．It is risky to explore. | D．Its samples are of little practical value. |
| A．Georgia & Russia. | B．Russia & the Pacific Ocean. |
| C．Georgia & the Pacific Ocean. | D．The Middle East & Russia. |
| A．They have some sign of life. | B．They are over a thousand meters deep. |
| C．They are results of climate change. | D．They are all below sea level. |
5 . On Aug. 13, four Chinese irrigation (灌溉) sites won global recognition and were added to the 2018 list of Heritage Irrigation Structures. Let’s look at these amazing sites.
Dujiangyan
Dujiangyan is the oldest and only surviving dam-less irrigation system in the world. More than 2,000 years ago, Chengdu was threatened by frequent flooding from the Minjiang River. Li Bing, a local official, studied the situation and designed the Dujiangyan irrigation system, which could control the water flow from the mountains to the Chengdu Plain throughout the year.
The Dujiangyan irrigation system has created harmony between man, earth and water. It is the last remaining ecological project of its kind.
Changqu Canal
Changqu Canal is in the city of Xianyang in Hubei province. It is 48 km long and was originally used to transport soldiers. It was later used for irrigation – in fact, it is still used to provide water to more than 20 square km of farmland.
“The recognition of irrigation heritage is intended to help us better use ancient irrigation projects that are still functioning and preserve our precious historical and cultural heritage,” says a notice on the official website of the Hubei provincial government.
Lingqu Canal
Lingqu Canal is located in Xing’an county, near Guilin, Guangxi province. As the oldest canal in the world, it has been described as “another wonder of the world”. The design of the canal is unique. “It magically shows the ease of transportation along the north and south waterways,” according to the Travel China Guide.
Jiang-Xi Dam
The Jiang-Xi Dam in Zhejiang province actually consists of two dams–the Jiang and Xi dams. Built in the 14th century, it improved life for local people for centuries. “It not only plays an important role in irrigation, but also responds to environmental governance,” said Ding Kunlun, vice chairman of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage.
1. What do we know about Dujiangyan?| A．It has no dam and has existed for over 2000 years. |
| B．Li Bing was tasked to design it as a local official. |
| C．It could control the Minjiang River most of the time in a year. |
| D．After it was built Chengdu was never threatened by flood. |
| A．Military purpose. | B．Water supply. |
| C．Farmland irrigation. | D．The ease of transportation. |
| A．Dujiangyan and Changqu Canal. |
| B．Dujiangyan and Jiang Xi Dam. |
| C．Changqu Canal and Jiang Xi Dam. |
| D．Dujiangyan and Lingqu Canal. |
6 . Los Angeles is a relatively new and spreading city, which means there’s a big canvas (画布) for architects of many styles to put their 3D stamps on the city. For architecture fans, here are some must-see spots.
Watts Towers
Designed and constructed by Italian-born Simon Rodia over the course of three decades, the 17 towers—the tallest is 100 feet high—consist of metal and found objects such as broken glass, pottery chips (陶器碎片), seashells, etc. You can take a guided tour of this place, learning about the history of this attractive project. 1727 E. 107th St., LA.
Getty Center
Architect Richard Meier’s shining city on a hill took 16,000 tons of marble to build but today it’s a wonder, housing the Getty’s main art collection and offering unbelievable views of Los Angeles. 1200 Getty Center Dr., LA.
Sturges House
Frank Lloyd Wright designed nine different structures throughout Southern California. This was Wright’s first turn away from the textile (纺织) block buildings he’d been designing in California and toward stressing natural factors of the structure to mix with the natural surroundings. 449 N. Skyewiay Rd., LA.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Frank Gehry has lived in Los Angele s for decade s and hi s world has been se en throughout the city. This one, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, is his most luxurious (奢侈的) building in Southern California. You need not sit through a symphony performance to get a glance at the interior(内饰). The concert hall offers free self-guided audio tours recorded by actor John Litligow. 111 S. Grand Ave., LA.
1. Where should you go to visit Watts Towers?| A．1200 Getty Center Dr., LA. | B．1727 E. 107th St., LA. |
| C．449 N. S kyewiay Rd., LA. | D．111 S. Grand Ave., LA. |
| A．It is made up of 9 structures. | B．It is a textile block building. |
| C．It fits in well with its environment. | D．It is a luxurious building. |
| A．Simon Rodia. | B．Richard Meier. |
| C．John Lithgow. | D．Frank Gehry. |
7 . Caves (洞穴) have a primary appeal — they hold the secrets to our past and are mysterious in and of themselves.
● Mammoth Cave
Kentucky, USA
The longest cave system in the world lies beneath the Green River Valley in Kentucky and while over 400 miles of passageways have been mapped, it has yet to be fully discovered. The complex limestone labyrinth (石灰岩迷宫) was discovered by humans 4,000 years ago.
● Blue Grotto
Capri, Italy
Once used as the personal swimming hole for the Roman Emperor Tiberius, this extremely bright sea cave is almost 200 feet long and 82 feet wide. Its unique glow comes from the light entering the small opening to the outside.
● Avshalom Cave Nature Reserve
Beit Shemesh, Israel
Also known as the Soreq Cave Nature Reserve, Avshalom is considered to be the Rosetta Stone of climate history in the Eastern Mediterranean through the packed stalactites (钟乳石) found in the cave, some of which are over 13 feet long, and are as old as 300,000 years.
● Cave of the Crystals
Naica, Mexico
This unique cave system in Mexico contains some of the largest natural crystals (水晶) ever found—the longest of which is 39 feet long and 13 feet thick. However, it is rarely explored due to logistical difficulties: it is extremely hot due to its location above a volcanic vent, and the huge crystals block also block the passage.
1. Where does the longest cave lie in?| A．Kentucky, USA. | B．Capri, Italy. |
| C．Beit Shemesh, Israel. | D．Naica, Mexico. |
| A．the most beautiful cave. | B．the Soreq Cave Nature Reserve. |
| C．the Emperor’s swimming hole. | D．over 400 miles of passageways. |
| A．Cave of the Crystals. | B．Blue Grotto. |
| C．Mammoth Cave. | D．Avshalom Cave Nature Reserve. |
8 . The Leshan Giant Buddha is a statue of Maitreya (弥勒大佛) in sitting posture.The Buddha is located in Sichuan Province,facing Minjiang,Qingyi and Dadu rivers.In December,1996,the Buddha was included by UNESCO on the list of the World Heritage (世界遗产名录).
The statue was begun in the year 713 in the Tang Dynasty,and finished in the year 803.The Buddha is 71 meters high.The 8-meter-long instep (脚背) is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 28-meter-wide shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground.
A monk called Hai Tong is connected with the Buddha forever.At that time,wild waters brought out many boat accidents and people just put the disaster down to the presence of a water spirit.So Hai Tong decided to make a statue beside the river thinking that the Buddha would bring the water spirit under control.After 20 years’ begging from door to door,he finally collected enough money for the plan.When some local government officials tried to get this amount of money,Hai Tong said that they could get his eyeballs but not the money raised for the Buddha.After he dug out his eyeballs,these officials ran away scared.The project was half done when Hai Tong passed away,and two of his disciples (门徒) continued the work.After a total of 90 years’ hard work,the project was finally completed.
Having such a long history,the Buddha was nearly destroyed by the wind and rain.The Chinese government began the repairing work in 1963 under the instructions of experts from UNESCO.
1. What’s the main idea of this passage?| A．To explain the Leshan Giant Buddha briefly. |
| B．To tell us how the Leshan Giant Buddha was built. |
| C．To say where the Leshan Giant Buddha is. |
| D．To mention how the Leshan Giant Buddha came into the World Heritage. |
| A．By calling for donation. |
| B．By working on the river. |
| C．By asking the government. |
| D．By selling his eyeballs. |
| A．was completed when Hai Tong was alive |
| B．doesn’t exist now |
| C．played a good role in controlling the river |
| D．has been a World Heritage site for almost twenty years |
| A．make his temple more famous |
| B．show respect to the water spirit |
| C．protect the safety of the local people |
| D．get more people to believe in Buddhism |
| A．generous | B．cruel |
| C．easy-going | D．long-suffering |
9 . For most of us Veterans Day just means a chance to enjoy an extra day off from school or work.However，this November 11th，be sure to spend a few minutes on its true purpose，by acknowledging(感谢)the men and women who have served in our armed forces.
And you don't have to stop at just this one day.Join the over 10,000 youth members of the Young Marines group that honor these brave men and women all year long with special events and completely spoil them for an entire week，from November 4th to 11th，by visiting hospitalized veterans，performing chores for disabled veterans and even organizing communitywide social event.The program open to kids ranging from the age of eight all the way to high school，is a great way to not only show your appreciation，but also get a chance to do some fun activities with likeminded kids and make a real difference in a veteran's life.
People often believe that Memorial Day and Veterans Day are celebrated for the same reason.There is, however, a subtle but important difference between the two.While both honor our military personnel，the former is a day to remember and pay respect to all the men and women that died serving our country in a war, while Veterans Day is to celebrate the soldiers who are still alive and served in the forces at any time，during peace or war.
Though several other countries celebrate this day in honor of their own veterans，the meaning is slightly different for each one.Some like the United Kingdom，celebrate it in honor of all soldiers—living or dead，while others like Canada celebrate it to honor all living veterans.They also call it different names.France and New Zealand still call it Armistice Day.In the United Kingdom，Australia and Canada it is referred to as Remembrance Day, while Malta and South Africa celebrate it as Poppy Day.
No matter what it is called，the reason for observing the day is the same—to show our appreciation to the brave men and women who sacrifice(牺牲)everything to make this world a safer place for the rest of us.
1. What's the main purpose of Veterans Day？| A．To celebrate America's success in world wars. |
| B．To let people have one more day off. |
| C．To organize fun activities for school children. |
| D．To show respect for soldiers' contributions. |
| A．Organize parties for disabled veterans. |
| B．Help take care of sick veterans. |
| C．Share stories with veterans and other kids. |
| D．Entertain veterans by singing and dancing. |
| A．It is another name for Veterans Day. |
| B．It is in remembrance of war dead. |
| C．It is observed on November 11th every year. |
| D．It honors soldiers who are serving in the military. |
| A．The origin of Veterans Day. | B．The history of Veterans Day. |
| C．Veterans Day observance. | D．Veterans Day around the world. |
10 . Washington D.C.is the capital of the United States. It's the center of the national government. It's a busy，working city with a large population. But what is more，Washington is also a city of history and culture.
Washington was created in 1790，when Congress(国会)decided to place the nation's new capital in the east of the country. It was built halfway between the northern and the southern states of the America. And of course it was named after George Washington，the first President of the United States.
There are many tourist sights in Washington. One of them is the White House. This is the home and office of the President of the United States. Most visitors are，however，surprised by how small the White House actually is.
Washington is also a great culture city. The Library of Congress contains one of the largest library collections in the world. The Smithsonian Museum holds the nation's largest collection of cultural materials. And John F.Kennedy Center is a famous center of art and culture. It has many great musical and theatre performances throughout the year.
1. The writer mainly talks about________.| A．Washington |
| B．the history and culture of Washington |
| C．buildings and sights in Washington |
| D．the history of Washington |
| A．the east of the USA |
| B．the center of the USA |
| C．the east and halfway away from the north |
| D．the east，on the middle point from north to south of the country |
| A．general introduction，history，sights and culture. |
| B．general introduction，sights and history |
| C．population，history and culture |
| D．history and culture |
| A．Washington is the largest city in the USA |
| B．Washington is also the center of economic in the USA |
| C．it is situated in the west of the USA |
| D．Washington is a young city |
