Longji Rice Terraces
Imagine mountains wrapped in silver water, shining in the spring sun. Summer sees the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are gold, and in winter they are covered in sheets of white frost. These are the colours of the Longji Rice Terraces.
These terraces were built by the local Zhuang and Yao people, to whom Guangxi is home. Starting in the Yuan Dynasty, work on the terraces took hundreds of years, until its completion in the early Qing Dynasty. Reaching as far as the eye can see, these terraces cover tall mountains, often from the bottom to the very top.
So why did these people go to so much trouble to turn the entire mountains into terraces? Firstly, there are few large, flat areas of land in the region. Building the terraces therefore meant that they could increase the areas in which they could grow rice. Secondly, although the region has plenty of rain, the mountains are steep and the soil is shallow. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from being washed away.
But perhaps what is most significant is the way in which people have worked in harmony with nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are cleverly designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the rainy season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water and turns it into vapour. This forms clouds from which rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again. These terraces also provide a perfect environment for birds and fish, some of which feed on insects that can harm the rice crops.
Although modern technology could help produce more crops, these terraces still mean a lot to the people for whom traditions hold much value. This knowledge is passed down through families, which means that new generations continue to use ancient methods of agriculture to maintain the terraces. Today, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The Longji Rice Terraces will have a bright future. |
| B．How people worked in harmony with nature to create the Longji Rice Terraces. |
| C．The Longji Rice Terraces are fascinating all around the year. |
| D．The reason why Longji Rice Terraces were built. |
| A．Beautiful. | B．Common. |
| C．Just so-so. | D．Unpleasant. |
| A．The terraces’ scenery. |
| B．The terraces’ future. |
| C．The terraces’ function. |
| D．The terraces’ history. |
| A．They were built many years ago. |
| B．They have become a tourist attraction. |
| C．They were built in harmony with nature. |
| D．They have brought the locals much money. |
| A．To show the terraces are out of date. |
| B．To show the terraces are still valuable. |
| C．To show the terraces are kept better. |
| D．To show why the terraces are abandoned. |
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7. 细读短文并找出文中的拟人句
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