Located in Longsheng county of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Longji Rice Terraces are a     1     (典型的) example of how people seek a    2     (和谐的) relationship with nature. Lasting several     3     (朝代), work on the terraces took hundreds of years until its completion. These terraces are cleverly     4     (设计) with hundreds of waterways connecting with each other, along which rainwater moves down the mountains and into the crop fields. On the one hand, the flat terraces serve as a     5     (解决办法) to the lack of farming land in the region and help prevent the     6     (浅的) soil from being washed away. On the other hand, they also provide a perfect environment for some birds and fish feeding on     7     (昆虫) that can harm the rice crops. Although modern technology could help produce more crops, new generations continue to use ancient methods of     8     (农业) to maintain the terraces, because for the local people traditions hold much value and preserving the wisdom of their ancestors is a     9     (优先事项). As a highly     10     (推荐) scenic spot, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.

I wake up to the sound of the wind buffeting the cloth of my tent. Even though the sun is brightly shining, telling whether it is morning or night is     1     I’m above the Arctic Circle, where in summer the sun never sets. Checking my     2    . I see that it is 7: 30 a.m. I leave my tent and walk over to the mountain     3    . Spreading out before me, branches of the Rapa River flow through the v    4     below. I’m in the remote far north of Sweden in Sarek National Park, a place with no roads or     5    .

Sarek’s mountains used to be covered by vast sheets of i    6    . Around 9,000 years ago, this ice melted, leaving behind about 100 glaciers. Soon after, reindeer began to arrive. Following the reindeer were the Sami     7    , who made this t    8     their home. Getting here is quite difficult, so     9     from the Sami very few people have ever seen Sarek. In 1909, Sarek was made a national park in order to keep the land in its natural     10    .

Sarek’s mountains used to be covered by vast sheets of ice. Around 9.000 years ago; this ice melted, leaving behind about 100 g    1    . Soon after, reindeer began to arrive. Following the reindeer were the Sami people, who made this t    2     their home. Getting here is quite difficult, so apart from the Sami very few people have ever seen Sarek. In 1909, Sarek was made a national park in order to keep the land in its n    3    state. Though the Sami are allowed to continue their traditional way of life in the park, no one else can live here, and all new development is b    4     within park boundaries. At the far side of the valley, an ancient Sami cottage is v    5    . Close by, there are a few reindeer feeding on grass.

For hundreds of years, looking after reindeer was a way of life for the Sami. They used the reindeer's meat for food, their bones for tools, and their skin for making clothes and tents. Since reindeer were always on the move, the Sami would pick up their tents and a    6    them. Today, most Sami have houses in villages near Sarek and live a m    7    life just like their neighbours. But every spring, a small number of Sami still follow their reindeer into the v    8    of Sarek, living in tents or old cottages and enjoying their traditions. I am not a Sami, but in Sarek I've a    9    some of their habits. For example, this morning my breakfast is flat bread warmed over a fire, dried reindeer meat, and some sweet and s    10    berries that I found growing near my tent.

The Earth is made up of three layers. In the centre is the core, which is as big as the Mars and has a high     1     of over 7,000˚C.     2     the core is a thick layer called the mantle,     3     lower part is solid rock,     4     portion is molten rock called the magma. Floating on top of the magma is the Earth’s rocky crust.

The crust is made up of tectonic plates. These huge plates are moved slowly by magma currents below, sliding past each other with     5    . If a plate is forced down     6     another and gets     7    , pressure will build up until the stressed rocks suddenly     8     apart, causing     9     ground movements called earthquakes. The point where the rocks suddenly jolt or break is called the epicentre, from which, powerful shock waves     10     out in all directions.

2 A Land of Mountain and Ice

Sarek’s mountains used to be covered by vast sheets of ice. Around 9, 000 years ago, this ice melted, leaving behind about 100 g    1    . Soon after, reindeer began to arrive. Following the reindeer were the Sami people, who made this territory their home. G    2     here is quite difficult, so apart from the Sami very few people have ever seen Sarek. In 1909, Sarek was made a national park in order to keep the land in its n    3    state. Though the Sami are allowed to continue their traditional way of life in the park, no one else can live here, and all new development is b    4     within park boundaries. At the far side of the valley, an ancient Sami cottage is v    5    . Close by, there are a few reindeer feeding on grass.

3 Man at Peace with Nature

For hundreds of years, looking after reindeer was a way of life for the Sami. They used the reindeer’s meat for food, their bones for tools, and their skin for m    6     clothes and tents. Since reindeer were always on the move, the Sami would pick up their tents and a    7     them. Today, most Sami have houses in villages near Sarek and live a m    8     life just like their neighbours. But every spring, a small number of Sami still follow their reindeer into the valleys of Sarek, living in tents or old cottages and enjoying their t    9    . I am not a Sami, but in Sarek I’ve a    10     some of their habits. For example, this morning my breakfast is flat bread warmed over a fire, dried reindeer meat, and some sweet and sour berries that I found growing near my tent.