1 . Sanjiangyuan National Park
Located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau , the Sanjiangyuan covers about 123,100 square kilometeris .It is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, which help to nurture billions of lives. Hence it is also called China's water tower.
The giant panda national park
The giant panda national park covers about 27,000 square kilometers in three provinces – Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi in the country's west. The park is home to 1,631 wild pandas, accounting for 87.50 percent of the country's total wild panda population.
Northeast China tiger and leopard national park
Northeast China tiger and leopard national park is located in the northeast of Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces at the junction, with a total area of 1.4612 square kilometers. The park is China's most important settlement and breeding area of the Siberian tiger and Amur leopard. It is also an important wildlife distribution area and one of the areas with the richest biodiversity in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere.
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Located in the south-central part of Hainan Island, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park covers an area of 4,269 square kilometers, covering more than 95 percent of the island's primary forest and 55 percent of its natural forest.
The park has the most concentrated distribution of the best preserved and the largest contiguous area of island tropical rain forest in China, an important part of the world's tropical rain forest, with a national representative and global protection significance.
1. Which park is called China's water tower?| A．The giant panda national park |
| B．Northeast China tiger and leopard national park |
| C．Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park |
| D．Sanjiangyuan National Park |
| A．The giant panda national park | B．Northeast China tiger and leopard national park |
| C．Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park | D．Sanjiangyuan National Park |
| A．Heilongjiang | B．Sichuan | C．Gansu | D．Shaanxi |
| A．The giant panda national park | B．Northeast China tiger and leopard national park |
| C．Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park | D．Sanjiangyuan National Park |
2 . The Most Breathtaking Theaters in the World
Shakespeare's Globe Theater（London, UK）
The original Globe Theater was built by Shakespeare's company in 1599, but was destroyed by fire in 1613. A replica was built in 1997 just meters from the original site. The new 857-seat structure has several modern features. It has the first and only straw roof permitted in London since the great fire of 1666.
Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London; +44 20 7902 1400
Margravial Opera House（Bayreuth, Germany）
Built in 1745, the UNESCO-listed Mareravial Opera House is regarded as the finest baroque theater in Europe. The stage has a depth of 27 meters and was the largest in Europe until 1871. Much of the original materials remain, along with original structures, such as the twin staircases.
Margravial Opera House, Opernstrasse 14. Bayreuth, Germany; +49 9 21 7 59 69 22
Teatro Amazonas（Manaus, Brazil）
There can't be many theaters located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, and the Teatro Amazonas is certainly the most breathtaking. The theater was built in 1895 and was designed by Italian architect Celestial Sacardim. Work took 15 years. largely thanks to the decision to source supplies from all over the world
Amazon Theater, Centro, Manaus, Brazil; +55 92 3622 1880
National Centre for the Performing Arts（Beijing, China）
The National Centre for the Performing Arts（NCPA）, built in 2007, is an arts centre in Beijing. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the NCPA is the largest theatre complex（建筑群）in Asia. The NCPA includes value in both ancient traditional Chinese architecture and modern architecture. It was specially designed to improve the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People in order to fit in with the surroundings.
NCPA, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing; +86 010 6655 0989
1. Where does the theatre with its longest survival time lie?| A．In London. | B．In Bayreuth | C．In Manaus. | D．In Beijing |
| A．Shakespeare's Globe. | B．Margravial Opera House. |
| C．Teatro Amazonas. | D．National Centre for the Performing Arts. |
| A．It features modern architecture. | B．It receives worldwide supplies. |
| C．It is a multifunctional theatre | D．It matches its surroundings. |
3 . Island Getaways
Beautiful beaches, rich cultures and untouched pockets of wilderness are just a few attractive characteristics of the best island vacations. Each of the islands listed here has something extra that keeps travelers charmed.
Principe
West of Africa's mainland, small Principe offers blue seas, yellow beaches, jungle peaks, whale-watching with received plantations to visit and locals to meet. Pleasant eco-resorts help, too. Principe is amazingly safe and welcoming to visitors, particularly ecotourists, for whom the advancing jungle is a delight.
Bryher
The handsomest of the Isles of Scilly, 25 miles from Land's End, Bryher accompanies rose gardens with a windy wild coastal path. You can follow the coastal path visiting the charming beaches including Rushy Bay which is a must with fine white sand and clear waler. You can also take a hike up one of the hills to enjoy amazing views across Scilly and out to a Bishop Rock Lighthouse witnessing the past glory.
Astypalea
Butterfly-shaped Astypalea, an unspoilt Greek island, which banned cigarettes in 2019. Pretty yellow beaches as well as churches in the math town. Chora Chora, the island's capital, built on a hill with a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sen. On the top of the hill overlooking the village, sits Querini castle which used to protect the island during the Middle Ages, but now it is the main attraction of Astypalea.
Dominica
Commonly known as The Nature Island, Dominica sticks out up from the shiny waters of the Caribbean to serve as a fairy land for travelers seeking thrills in a place that lime has forgotten. The best-kept secrets of the Caribbean arc lush rainforests, towering mountains, rushing rivers and welcoming waterfalls with volcanic wonders adding unique beauty to Dominica.
1. Which is a perfect destination for those who are interested in ecotourism?| A．Bryher. | B．Principe. | C．Astypalea. | D．Dominica. |
| A．They have historic buildings. | B．They're famous for rose gardens. |
| C．They look like a butterfly. | D．They're surrounded by white beaches. |
| A．Towering mountains. | B．Rushing rivers. |
| C．Welcoming waterfalls. | D．Volcanic wonders. |
4 . The Best American National Parks to Visit for Christmas
The Christmas season can be stressful if you spend every moment cleaning, cooking, and hosting guests. Or the holidays can be a joyful celebration of beauty and peace if you plan an escape to one of America’s splendid national parks.
Yellowstone National Park
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Yellow stone, the country’s first national park, is your top choice. Your family can enjoy a quiet and private getaway（假日休闲地）at Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins. Sit by the fire with hot cocoa and look out at the vast wilderness all around you. Also you can photograph a bison and other wildlife on a winter photo safari.
Rocky Mountain National Park
If you really want to get away from it all over the holidays, plan a trip to a park less traveled in the winter. Rocky Mountain National Park is quiet and uncrowded, but the wildlife is still active. Seeing a moose（麋鹿）in its natural habitat is an experience you won’t forget. Sledding and skiing are also exciting possibilities.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park offers a fun holiday experience for families. Families can get on the Polar Express that runs from Arizona to the South Rim of the park through early January and enjoy a pleasant ride complete with hot chocolate and cookies. When you reach the “North Pole”, Santa Claus is waiting with a gift for each child. It’s the best way for your kids to enjoy the magic of Christmas.
Virgin Islands National Park
If snow isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Virgin Islands National Park is perfect for you to escape winter. With white sandy beaches, clear blue water, and more than 800 subtropical plants, you will feel like you traveled outside the U.S. to a tropical area. Cinnamon Bay is a major spot for Christmastime visitors looking for water sports like sailing, diving, and snorkeling（浮潜）.
1. In which park can you both see animals and go skiing?| A．Yellow stone National Park. | B．Rocky Mountain National Park. |
| C．Grand Canyon National Park. | D．Virgin Islands National Park. |
| A．Art lovers. | B．Explorers. |
| C．Outdoor photographers. | D．Families with children. |
| A．Various water sports. | B．Beautiful train rides. |
| C．The quiet environment. | D．The snow-covered landscape. |
5 . There are many famous lakes in China. The following are some of them.
West Lake, Hangzhou
West Lake is a gift of nature. Located in the west part of Hangzhou and surrounded (围绕) by green hills, this lake is famous for beautiful scenery, a lot of historical sites and native products. In addition, West Lake can always be seen in paintings.
Kanas Lake, Xinjiang
Kanas Lake is one of the deepest lakes in China. It is home to about 800 kinds of plants and more than 100 kinds of birds. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and thick forest, the lake takes on different colors in different seasons. Kanas Lake is also a mysterious (神秘的) place, and it’s said that large creatures have been seen in it.
Erhai Lake, Yunnan
Located in the northwest part of Dali City, Yunnan Province, Erhai Lake is a plateau (高原) lake. As the lake has a shape of an ear, it gets the name Erhai. Called “the pearl on plat-eau” for its beautiful scenery, it is also one of the most attractive places in Yunnan.
Yamdrok Lake, Tibet
Surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains, this lake is fed by many small streams.
With an area of 675 square kilometers, this lake has large lakeside grassland, which serves as highland pastures (牧场). There are lots of fish living in the lake, which are caught by local people. From April to October, fish caught in this lake are sold at the market in Lhasa.
1. Which lake is preferred by painters according to the text?| A．Yamdrok Lake. | B．Kanas Lake. | C．Erhai Lake. | D．West Lake. |
| A．They are fed by many small rivers. |
| B．They can serve as highland pastures. |
| C．They are surrounded by snow-capped mountains. |
| D．They are famous for a lot of strange animals. |
| A．It looks like an ear. | B．It is very beautiful. |
| C．It is a plateau lake. | D．It has many stories. |
6 . To understand the effect of ice melting (融化) around the world we first have to understand what an ice sheet actually is. Covering 5.4 million square miles in Antarctica (南极洲) and 656,000 square miles in Greenland, an ice sheet is actually a huge land of ice from the Ice Age. These sheets form in areas where snow that falls in winter does not melt entirely over the summer. This ice, home to different species of animals, is now melting at a rate that cannot support the life it currently holds.
Many of these creatures rely on ice sheets as land for resting, hunting and protection, yet as the size decreases, they are forced out of their homeland in search of other land on which to live. Often this means journeys to search for food and an imbalanced ecosystem happens when different species are forced together onto the coast.
Since the 1990s, the deer population has dropped by 56 per cent—climate change has caused warmer temperatures over winter setting off rainfall instead of snow, which freezes more quickly underfoot and makes it harder to walk and search for food. In the summer, frozen layers of land melts and releases trapped diseases which bring death to animals. A similar situation has fallen on the polar bears who suffered a 40 per cent population loss between 2001—2010.
Quite apart from these problems, the threat of sea levels rising if the ice caps were to disappear is approaching. If the Greenland Ice Sheet melted, the sea level would rise around six meters, and if the Antarctic Ice Sheet melted, sea levels would rise by around 20 feet. As a matter of fact, sea levels have risen about eight inches since 1880, three of which we’ve gained over the last 25 years. This seemingly small amount has already caused dangerous flooding, loss of farmland and more deadly storms.
While we’re still a long way from losing the ice sheets all together, we’ve already lost too much and if we don’t take climate change seriously now, we will certainly hit the point of no return.
1. What is an ice sheet according to the passage?| A．It is an area where ice never melts in summer. |
| B．It is a land of ice that covers all Greenland. |
| C．It is a large area of ice that exists for centuries. |
| D．It is an ice world for animals to live on. |
| A．It makes it easier to travel to other land. |
| B．It increases the population of sea animals. |
| C．It makes their surroundings more comfortable. |
| D．It causes hunger and illness among animals. |
| A．Ice sheet will soon disappear from the Earth. |
| B．Sea levels are rising faster in recent years. |
| C．Greenland will be the first to lose all its ice. |
| D．All natural disasters happen due to sea level rise. |
| A．Effect of Melting Ice Sheets | B．Ice, Sea and Animals |
| C．Greenland and Antarctica | D．Changes of Sea Levels |
7 . On November 18, 2020, state workers who were tracking sheep were flying over the Utah desert in a helicopter. They noticed an object that is called monolith later, and landed nearby to see what it was. It was a shiny, three-sided metal column about 3.7 meters tall and planted solidly in the middle of the desert.
Bret Hutchings, who flew the helicopter, said, “I have to admit, that’s been about the strangest thing that I’ve come across out there in all the years of flying.” The shape of the monolith and its strange appearance in the desert has reminded people of a black monolith in the science fiction movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. In that movie, the monolith was also unexplained, but it appeared to have been created by creatures from another world.
Some people say that the monolith appears to be similar to artwork created by some well-known artists. But one of the possible artists died in 2011. Two others have said that the work is not theirs.
Still, people working for the government believe that the monolith was most likely put there as an art project. But they note that it was quite a difficult task. The monolith is in a hard-to-reach spot somewhere in the 93,000 square kilometers of Utah land managed by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Delivering the column that seems valuable to that location in the traditional way would have required moving very heavy materials. They must have thought of other ways.
One metal statue in the desert may not cause too many problems for the sheep, but what if lots of people decide to visit the site? That’s one reason the DLM hasn’t released where it is. The BLM is also afraid that the monolith might encourage other artists to plant other similar artworks in the desert. That’s something that the department doesn’t want to happen. Anyway, the government still hasn’t decided whether to remove the monolith or let it remain.
1. Why did the author mention the science fiction movie?| A．To explain the film was imaginary. |
| B．To show the monolith is strange. |
| C．To make the text more interesting. |
| D．To prove what Bret said was true. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Costly. |
| C．Smooth. | D．Unknown. |
| A．Keep its location secret. | B．Get it removed at once. |
| C．Preserve it as an artwork. | D．Make it a tourist attraction. |
| A．Metal Column Planted in the Ground |
| B．Unusual Monolith Found in the Desert |
| C．Monolith Presenting Strange Appearance |
| D．Man-made Column Drawing Attention |
8 . The ruins of a huge Maya city have been discovered in Guatemala with the help of the remote sensing technique LiDAR, according to the National Geographic on Thursday.
This breakthrough was possible thanks to LiDAR sensors, which can survey landscapes in 3D by reflecting laser pulses off the ground from unmanned air vehicles and others. LiDAR is exceptionally useful for detecting archeological sites (考古遗址), as it gets through jungles and other features that hold up exploration on the ground. The technique has been the activator (催化剂) of many discoveries in recent years. For instance, major finds at Angkor, Cambodia and Caracol, Belize can explain what it did.
This large lost city envelops sites like Tikal, Holmul, and Witzna—known for their temples and pyramids—but shows that these famous heritage areas are the tip of the iceberg of this lost urban network.
Hidden under the jungles of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, more than 60,000 human-made features—homes, canals, highways, some of which can even reach the modernized standard—have been identified by an international cooperation of researchers headed by the PACUNAM Foundation, a Maya cultural and natural heritage organization. Those have experts rethinking the outlines and complexity of the Maya empire.
These ancient peoples obviously established these imaginative cultures based on their known relics, but the new research has shown that the scale of this lost society is far beyond what experts had imagined. The findings will be explored in an hour-long documentary called Lost Treasures of the Maya Snake Kings, premiering (首映) Tuesday, February 6 on the National Geographic Channel.
“There are entire cities we didn’t know about now showing up in the survey data,” said Francisco Belli, one of the lead archeologists on the project. “There are 20,000 square kilometres more to be explored and there are going to be hundreds of cities there that we don’t know about, and we will push the frontiers,” he added.
1. What can we know about LiDAR?| A．It’s a breakthrough in archeology. | B．It’s major equipment in air forces. |
| C．It was first used in discovering a Maya city. | D．It’s a remote sensing technique using laser pulses. |
| A．The jungles of the Reserve. | B．The outlines of the Maya empire. |
| C．The researchers of the organization. | D．The man-made projects of the Reserve. |
| A．Famous and dangerous. | B．Vast and highly developed. |
| C．Mountainous and aggressive. | D．Enormous and traditional. |
| A．Restudy the history of Maya. | B．Use the LiDAR sensors as usual. |
| C．Continue to explore the unknown. | D．Study the documentary more carefully. |
9 . Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine (海洋的) environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species living in and around reefs. This biodiversity is considered the key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, viruses, and other diseases.
Healthy coral reefs support fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. About half of all managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for a part of their life cycles. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates the commercial value of U. S. fisheries from coral reefs is over $ 100 million, Local economies receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
Coral reef structures also buffer (缓冲) shorelines against 97 percent of the energy from waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, and property damage. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities from normal wave action and violent storms. Several million people live in U. S. coastal areas near coral reefs. Some coastal development is required to provide necessary infrastructure (基础设施) for coastal residents and the growing coastal tourism industry.
Despite their great economic and recreational value, coral reefs are severely threatened by pollution, disease, and habitat destruction. Once coral reefs are damaged, they are less able to support the many creatures that live on them and the communities near them. When a coral reef supports fewer fish, plants, and animals, it also loses value as a tourist destination.
1. Why is biodiversity important to medicines?| A．It can reduce the prices of new medicines. | B．It can help make new medicines. |
| C．It can be used for medicines. | D．It can be used to cure diseases. |
| A．They protect people against sharks. | B．They completely avoid serious flooding. |
| C．They prevent people from being drowned. | D．They weaken most of the energy from waves. |
| A．Most fish will die out. | B．Coastal cities will attract fewer tourists. |
| C．There will be no large fish. | D．The sea will be polluted. |
| A．The Importance of Diverse Ecosystems | B．The Environments of Coral Reefs |
| C．The Importance of Coral Reefs | D．The Value of Biodiversity |
10 . A fairy tale castle has been saved and is open to visitors thanks to the generosity and appreciation of thousands of complete strangers.
The Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers, located in the town of Les Trois-Moutiers in France，was purchased by thousands of Internet users. Today, the castle is co-owned by nearly 28,000 people from 115 countries.
According to the crowdfunding platform Dartagnans.fr, each contributor was given the opportunity to become a shareholder through an investment of at least 50 euros. Thousands of people around the world donated a total of 1.6 million euros. Shareholders voted not to restore the castle to its original elegant state, but to leave it as a “living ruin”. About 1,200 of the shareholders volunteered to clear the castle to prepare it for visitors. Organizers hope to welcome as many as 50,000 tourists by 2021 and more than 70,000 by 2022.
Constructed in the early 13th century, the Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers was originally the stronghold of the Baucay family, lords of Loudun. It was taken several times by the English during the Hundred Years’ War and destroyed during the French Revolution. In 1809, a wealthy businessman named Francois Hennecart purchased the castle with an aim to return it to its former glory. Over a century later, it was left to play host to nature after a fire destroyed much of its contents, including a library of rare books and antique furniture.
Recognizing that the natural beauty of the castle is now as much a monument as its architectural significance, the organizers behind the crowdfunding effort are aiming to delicately balance the preservation of both. “It is essential, in our view, to keep the castle in its green setting,” they write. “We hope it remains a unique castle in the world where heritage and nature will blend. It is also essential to protect it in such a way that visitors can enter safely and appreciate this masterpiece taken by nature.”
1. What did shareholders decide to do with the castle?| A．Keep it the way it is. | B．Restore it completely. |
| C．Put it up for sale online. | D．Protect it against tourism. |
| A．The value of the castle. | B．The history of the castle. |
| C．The owner of the castle. | D．The construction of the castle. |
| A．Visited. | B．Rebuilt. | C．Attacked. | D．Abandoned. |
| A．It will combine the depth of history and the beauty of nature. |
| B．It will inspire a new way of saving our heritage. |
| C．It will take on a new architectural significance. |
| D．It will be recognized as a national heritage. |
