The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, which plays
On March 31, the Eiffel Tower celebrated its 130th anniversary since it opened.
The tower was created by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel and was first intended as the main entrance
Visitors today can choose to climb 1,665 steps or take one of the original elevator cars
Today, the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of France, representing a feeling of pride and thankfulness. It is a global icon that can bring together people from different
Before foundation of Sui Dynasty, China had
The establishment of Sui Dynasty
The Grand Canal reached a new peak in the Yuan Dynasty (13th century), providing a unified inland navigation network consisting
As
Dunhuang, an oasis (绿洲) in the Taklamakan Desert, used to be a major stop along the Silk Road, but is now mainly a fascinating tourist destination.
Those interested
Also, there are few things as special as walking across the desert oasis at sunrise.
No trip to Dunhuang is complete without visiting the Dunhuang Museum,
5 . In 2011, artist Grimanesa Amorós stepped off a boat made of totora reeds (芦苇) onto an island—also made of totora reeds — in the northwest portion of Lake Titicaca. It’s home to one of the world’s most innovative achievement of human engineering: the Uros Islands.
The man-made floating islands, which are home to the native Uros people, are created by putting layers upon layers of totora roots and reeds. This water-resistant plant grows in the lake and is the lifeblood of the Uros community. It is used to make boats, houses, roofs, mattresses (床垫) and more. The plant is also eaten and serves as medicine, and its flowers are used to make tea.
However, the Uros weren’t always dependent on the totora. More than 500 years ago, the growing Inca Empire began to invade the Uros’ mainland villages. To beat this threat, the Uros began to build the islands, which could be launched deep into Lake Titicaca, away from danger. Hundreds of years later, there are now about 120 of these constructed islands, with around 1,300 people living on them.
To build the islands, the Uros first gather large blocks of totora roots. Multiple blocks are pulled together, and the roots and reeds mix naturally to form a layer about 1 to 2m thick. The totora reed is laid on top of this floating base. The Uros use a long tool to reach deep down into the water and cut the plant above the base. Then, the reeds are dried in the sun for one to four weeks and bundled (捆绑) together using a rope. Once dried, totora reeds are placed in alternating directions on top of the root blocks and become the ground that the Uros walk and build their homes on.
Today, urban influences are evident on the islands: Solar panels power bedroom lights and small TVs; a radio station operates on the main island. It’s evident that these modern changes and tourism have changed the Uros’ life on the lake. One thing remains certain, though. As long as there is totora growing at Lake Titicaca, the islands’ rooted foundation will stay the same.
1. Which word can best describe the role totora reeds play in the Uro’s life?| A．Essential. | B．Symbolic. | C．Protective. | D．Sustainable. |
| A．To develop tourism. | B．To maintain their lifestyle. |
| C．To escape from enemies’ attack. | D．To be separated from the world. |
| A．The key to selecting building materials. | B．The procedure of building the islands. |
| C．The difficulty of living on the island. | D．The method of spotting reeds. |
| A．Fancy Lifestyles of the Uros | B．Innovative Building Materials |
| C．Floating Homes on Lake Titicaca | D．A Must-see Tourist Attraction of Lake Titicaca |
Placed among the busy streets of Washington, D. C. is a large public garden that many Americans have never heard of. The U. S. National Arboretum (植物园) includes
Government scientists are in charge of the 180-hectare area. Their main goal is
The arboretum is home to one of the
While the scientists do their work, the public
7 . If you think about World Heritage Sites, you probably think of places connected with ancient art and culture, historical buildings and monuments. And of course, many of these are on the World Heritage List (WHL) (世界遗产名录). But the WHL contains a lot of sites that are not so obvious. Let’s look at a few of them.
Robben Island in South Africa
This island was used through the centuries a s a prison, a hospital and a military base. But it’s probably most famous as a maximum-security prison for political prisoners in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela was one of its most famous residents. The WHL says it represents “the victory of democracy (民主) and freedom over oppression (压迫) and racism (种族主义).”
Borders of France and Spain
This is an area of great natural beauty and the mountains have many interesting geological formations. But it is also an area of small farm. People there still use a type of agriculture that used to be common in mountainous areas of Europe but that has almost complete disappeared in modern times.
The city of Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia is a capital city that was created from nothing in 1956. The WHL calls it “a landmark in the history of town planning”. The different areas of the city and the buildings themselves were all designed at the same time carefully. Every part of the city shows the ideas of the planner and architect.
Simien National Park, Ethiopia
Simien National Park was one of the first sites to be listed in 1978. It is one of the highest mountainous areas in Africa, and the WHL calls it “one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world”. It is also important for its wildlife. The population of some rare animals is getting smaller and smaller.
1. Which of the following sites was listed on the WHL for its political symbol?| A．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. | B．Robben Island in South Africa. |
| C．Borders of France and Spain. | D．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. |
| A．Robben Island in South Africa. | B．Borders of France and Spain. |
| C．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. | D．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. |
| A．the remains of ancient cultures on the WHL |
| B．the household heritage sites on the WHL |
| C．important places of art and culture |
| D．some of the less well-known sites on the WHL |
8 . The country’s first national park, Yellowstone, is renaming one of its largest mountains to honor indigenous people after research revealed the man it had been named after helped lead a massacre (屠杀) against local tribes. As part of the park’s 150th anniversary, officials announced the 10,551-foot high peak formerly called Mount Doane is now First Peoples Mountain.
“It is a victory, yes. Is history being rewritten and retold truthfully? I hope so,” William Snell, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, told NPR. His group helped advise federal officials on the name change. In an email, Snell said the change to First Peoples Mountain couldn't have come at a better time as Yellowstone officials prepare for the park’s anniversary in August.
The peak—along a range on the eastern side of Yellowstone Lake—had been named after Gustavus Doane, who helped lead the Washburn-Langford-Doane exploration in 1870 that eventually led to the park getting federal protection.
But recently, historians uncovered Doane’s role in an attack that left at least 173 Native Americans dead. Known as the Marias Massacre, Doane carried out the attack over the killing of a white fur trader. In writings, Doane cast a favorable light on the attack and even showed off about it for the rest of his life, the National Park Service said last week.
The renaming to First Peoples Mountain is part of a trend to better recognize the roles and contributions of Native Americans. It has also become a priority of the nation’s first indigenous cabinet secretary—the Interior Department’s Deb Haaland, who oversees the National Park Service—and Charles SamsⅢ, the first Native American to serve as that agency’s director.
Across the American West, many iconic representative mountains and other environmental places were named after early white settlers, mostly men and some with terrible pasts.
In Yellowstone, park officials say they may consider further changes to derogatory (贬损的) or inappropriate geographical names in the months ahead.
1. Why does Yellowstone decide to rename one of its largest mountains?| A．To gain more profits. | B．To uncover the history of 1870s. |
| C．To be in honour of Native Americans. | D．To change people's attitude towards the park. |
| A．The terrible pasts of Doane. | B．The effort historians made. |
| C．The contributions Doane made. | D．The conclusion National Park Service drew. |
| A．Improve the service qualities. | B．Learn from history events and characters. |
| C．Protect the environment of Yellowstone Park. | D．Consider renaming improper geographical names. |
| A．Doane regarded his deeds as a shame. | B．Doane was once mistaken for a hero. |
| C．Americans reacted to the renaming negatively. | D．The government thought little of the renaming work. |
