1 . Not every architectural landmark is grand in scale, with splendid decorations, or amazing colors. Suzhou Gardens may just be the opposite.
When a group of monks during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) first constructed Lion Grove Garden, they may have just wanted to enjoy a quiet place, hidden away from urban noise, while in the following centuries, this charming garden - most notable for its waterside rockeries resembling the shape of lions—has attracted a constant stream of celebrity guests, who have left a long list of poems, paintings and historical anecdotes (轶事).
In recent years, nine of the best-known classical gardens of Suzhou, including Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator’s Garden and Great Wave Pavilion, were registered into the World Heritage List. As UNESCO remarks, “Classical Chinese garden design, which seeks to recreate natural landscapes in miniature (缩略图), is nowhere better illustrated than in the nine gardens, which reflect the profound natural beauty in Chinese culture and inspire people to pursue harmony with the world.”
Nowadays, relevant administrations have been trying to restore the historical landscapes of Suzhou’s classical gardens. Consequently, last year, a new project was launched allowing tourists in small groups to reserve places to enter the garden in the early morning before the regular opening time. Their visit ended with them completing the last step in making a traditional folding fan, adding a poem about the garden on its surface. The experience was also regarded as a way to help people understand the wisdom, elegance and philosophical worldview of the ancient Chinese literati (文人).
The delicate beauty of the gardens still flows via the canals that snake across Suzhou. Hardly felt, their strength in shaping the city’s character seems to last forever.
1. What’s the purpose of building the Lion Grove Garden?| A．To share historical anecdotes. |
| B．To attract celebrity guests. |
| C．To enjoy the beautiful scenery. |
| D．To stay far from the madding crowd. |
| A．Splendid decorations. |
| B．Grand beauty. |
| C．Human-nature harmony. |
| D．Amazing colors. |
| A．It featured traditional Chinese elements. |
| B．Small groups without reservation were welcome. |
| C．Its main aim was to help people approach poems. |
| D．It was launched when the gardens were open to the public. |
| A．Suzhou Gardens, a place of national pride. |
| B．Suzhou Gardens, a place with natural beauty. |
| C．Suzhou Gardens, a place that shows the decorations and colors. |
| D．Suzhou Gardens, a place that reflects the philosophy and culture. |
2 . Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park is the largest urban park in theworld, spanning more than 200,000 hectares. In fact, it is almost ten times as large as Table Mountain National Park, the world’s second-largest. Chugach State Park is located in Anchorage, Alaska. The park itself contains various different geographical features, including tall mountains, foothills, lakes, and rivers. It also includes hiking trails that are very popular with tourists.
Pedra Branca State Park
It is an urban park spanning 12,394 hectares in one of Brazil’s largest cities, Rio de Janeiro. It can more accurately be described as an urban forest. The park protects half of what is known as the Atlantic Forest remnant of Rio de Janeiro. It contains more than 900 species of plants and almost 500 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish.
Margalla Hills National Park
The third-biggest urban park in the world, consisting of 17,386 hectares, is located in the city of Islamabad, which is the capital of the South Asian nation of Pakistan. The park was established in 1980. The park boasts several species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, and it is an extension of the Islamabad wildlife sanctuary. It also includes several hiking trails that are popular with tourists and locals.
Bukhansan National Park
It is located in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The park itself, which has an area of 7,992 hectares, has been designated by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Most Visited National Park per Unit Area,” and is visited by an estimated 5 million people a year. It is very popular with hikers and contains Buddhist temples. The park is also home to around 3, 100 animal species.
1. What do we know about Table Mountain National Park?| A．It is located in the US. | B．It is the largest urban park. |
| C．It has an area of 20,000 hectares or so. | D．It’s the most famous for its different species. |
| A．Chugach State Park. | B．Pedra Branca State Park. |
| C．Bukhansan National Park. | D．Margalla Hills National Park. |
| A．Both of them lie in Asia. |
| B．Both of them are of the same size. |
| C．Both of them are especially popular with foreigners. |
| D．Both of them are home to endangered animal species. |
