My motherland, China,     1     capital is Beijing, is a great country with a long history and rich culture. It     2    (locate) in the east of Asia, with an area of 9,600,000 square kilometers and     3     population of 1.4 billion. Our country     4    (consist) of 56 nationalities, among which the Han Ethnic Group is the largest,     5    (make) up 94% of the people. There are many beautiful mountains and rivers as well as rich natural     6    (resource) in China. As we all know, the Yangtze River is the third     7    (long) river in the world,     8     the Great Wall is one of the seven wonders in the world. Kung Fu is the crystallization of Chinese     9    (wise) and the embodiment of Chinese traditional culture. The Chinese people are hard-working and brave. Great changes     10    (take) place in China in the past 20 years.

3 . Amazing places need visiting

From man-made marvels such as the Great Wall and Taj Mahal to natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Iguazu Falls, these amazing sites should be at the top of your travel list.

No.1 The Great Wall is generally considered as a symbol of China. The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders in the world, too. The Chinese call it the wall of 10,000 Li, which goes from the east to the west.

No.2 The Taj Mahal is universally recognized as the greatest building in India. Emperor Shah Jahan ordered to build this architecture for being used as the tomb of his wife.

No.3 The Grand Canyon has been there over the past six million years by Colorado River activity. It is one of the longest and deepest valleys in the world. Its red rocks make it a must-see -before-you-die place. Want to bring your four-leg friend along? The Grand Canyon is also among the best pet-friendly national parks!

No.4 The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland Australia, is the largest living thing on earth. It’s so huge that you can see it from outer space! This 1,429-mile ecosystem is home to many sea creatures, including around 400 kinds of coral, 1,500 species of fish. Not surprisingly it is one of the best places for scuba divers.

Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand. In 1993, it     1    (become) the first World Heritage Site to be considered as a cultural landscape (风景). This means it has     2    (nature) environments that should     3    (protect) both because they are special, and     4     they are culturally important to the native people.

The park, sitting near the center of the North Island of New Zealand, covers about 800 square kilometers. It protects different     5    (type) of landscape.     6     are snow-covered ski fields, hot springs, lakes, etc.

At the center of the park     7    (be) three huge active volcanoes(火山)—Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. All three are very much alive, with Tongariro erupting (爆发) as recently as August 2012, but this doesn't prevent people from     8    (visit) them—a monitoring system (监测系统) provides early warning of eruptions. These mountains have important cultural meanings for the native Maori people,     9    have lived in this area for about a thousand years.

Tongariro National Park is home to the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing,     10    (wide) considered as one of the world's best one-day hikes.

5 . The United States is a large country. From the East Coast to the West Coast it is about 3, 000 miles wide. The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast and the Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast. Canada is the country to the north of the United States and Mexico is the country to the south. There are many rivers in the United States. The most important ones are the Mississippi River and the Missouri River in the central part of the country, and the Colorado and Columbia River in west. There are 50 states in the United States today.

The American people are of almost every race in the world. This is because of immigrations from abroad throughout American history. The population is now over two hundred million. English is the common language. The largest city in the United States is New York. It is on New York Bay and at the mouth of the Hudson River.

Once regarded as a geographical disadvantage, Shantang village in Zhejiang province has now become an     1     (attract) tourism destination. It     2     (locate)in the northeastern tip of Guangchen town. It was off the beaten track when the road was not in good condition. However, with transportation improved, the village is connected to Shanghai by a stone bridge     3     a river.

Tourists can enjoy     4     (they) by walking among trees and grasslands, taking in the view of the lake and getting a look at the past through old items such as     5     (sew) machines, radios and photos which are preserved in a museum converted (改造) from an old house. Buses connecting the village to neighboring provinces are up and running in     6     endless stream. Over the past few years, dragon boat competitions and local festivals have been     7     (regular) held to enrich visitor experience. Local authorities have also restored a street     8     dates back to the Qing Dynasty to promote rural tourism in the village.

Shantang now offers sightseeing, leisure and shopping     9     (activity). Favorable policies have been introduced to encourage locals     10     (set) up shops on the streets. Last year, the historical street had 400,000 tourist visits, earning more than 20 million yuan in tourism income.

7 . 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.