The Power and Problems of Eco-Tourism
Eco-tourism gained its popularity over the past two decades. At its core, eco-tourism promotes sustainable travel practices that benefit local communities and protect the environment. However, like any significant trend, it is vital to analyze its impact and understand both its merits (好处) and potential shortcomings.
Eco-tourism emerged as a response to the damaging effects of mass tourism. Coastal towns were being transformed into commercial centers, but the luxury resorts rarely invested back into the community. Over time, ecosystems suffered, local cultures were overshadowed, and the very essence of these destinations was at risk. On the other hand, eco-tourism focuses on smaller groups, environmental education, and local engagement.
One of the primary merits of eco-tourism is its emphasis on environmental conservation. It helps protect endangered species and reforest areas affected by deforestation. Take the mountain gorillas of Rwanda for instance, tourism income has played a crucial role in their conservation efforts, bringing them back from the edge of extinction.
Furthermore, eco-tourism often ensures that local communities benefit economically. Instead of leaving profits to international corporations, the income often stays within the community. Local artisans, guides, and service providers receive a more significant piece of the pie, ensuring that tourism acts as a tool for socio-economic growth.
Yet, eco-tourism is not without its problems. The term “eco-tourism” is sometimes misused or overused. Some businesses might claim themselves as “eco-friendly” purely as a marketing strategy, without truly making sustainable practices.
In conclusion, eco-tourism represents a significant change towards more sustainable travel, placing emphasis on the environment and local communities. However, as with any major movement, it’s essential to approach it with a critical eye. By doing so, we can ensure that our passion for travelling doesn’t come at the cost of our planet or its inhabitants, but rather enriches both the traveler and the destination.
1. How has eco-tourism impacted the mountain gorillas of Rwanda?2. What are the merits of eco-tourism?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Eco-tourism places emphasis on the environment and local communities, ensuring that our passion for travelling comes at the cost of our planet and its inhabitants.
4. Do you believe eco-tourism is a sustainable way to promote tourism without causing harm? Why or why not? (In about 40 words)
2 . Come and take a space walk in a new dimensíon!
Reach for the stars at the Euro Space Center. Find out everything you need to know about space — from the origins of the space to the future exploration plans. Light, sound and special effects help to bring your space tour to life. Throughout your tour, our specially trained guides will answer your questions and provide you with any information you need.
Begin your tour with our exhibition (展览) about the planets, then move on to the Space Lab and see some of the experiments done in space. After that, visit our international space station, where you can climb into our Space Shuttle model and experience life on board as an astronaut (宇航员).
You will know all about space by now and, to help you further, our Space Center astronaut will tell you about how young people train as astronauts in our training school. Finally, you can watch our amazing Space Show in our IMAX cinema. It will give support to everything you have learned during your visit.
Outside we have a large car and coach park (no charge), and an outdoor exhibition including a solar system, full-size rocket models, a huge sundial and outdoor games. Don’t worry if it rains — much of this is under cover.
After that, why not visit our restaurant Resto Space for food and drink on a space theme (主题)? And don’t forget our Space Shop, offering you different kinds of gifts to take home.
The Euro Space Center is open every day during school holidays. Opening times are 10:00-5:00. For ticket information, call our booking service on +32-61-650133. Or you can email us for up-to-date entry information at info@eurospacecenter.be .
Euro Space Center
B-6890 Transinne, Belgium
1. In the Space Lab, people can ______.A.design spaceship models | B.communicate with astronauts |
C.see experiments carried out in space | D.visit the international space station |
A.Resto Space. | B.Space Shop. | C.Space Shuttle. | D.Space Show. |
A.give tourists advice | B.share life experience |
C.introduce space knowledge | D.attract people to the tour |
Harbin,
We’re having an amazing time here in South Africa. Our accommodation is perfect. It is in a location
When he was 7 years old, Francis Kere left his family to attend school because his village did not have one of
6 . 语法填空
Known as the “Eastern Moscow”, Harbin has always been regarded as
7 . Amsterdam Destination Guide
Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums, cycling culture and so on. It is the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands and often referred to as the “Venice of the North” because of its expansive system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Boom Season | Population | Language(s) | Currency | January Climate | July Climate |
May to October | 813,562 | Dutch | Euro | Average high: 5.8℃ | Average high: 22.0℃ |
Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cnyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit there are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.
If You Have Time
There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city’s museums, including the Jewish Historical Museum, the Scheepvaart Museum, and the botanical gardens.
Money Saving Tips
●Unless you really want to see the tulips blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.
●Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.
●Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
●Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city,
Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.
1. What can be learned about Amsterdam from this passage?A.Amsterdam is called the “Venice of the North” because of its location. |
B.The Van Gogh Museum lies in Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter. |
C.The Old Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
D.The Canal Ring is a place to attract garden lovers. |
A.arrange a guided canal tour |
B.buy train tickets at the counter |
C.reserve a hotel in the South District |
D.book flights between mid-March and mid-May |
A.A magazine. | B.An essay. | C.A report. | D.A website. |
8 . In recent years, wooden buildings have reached new heights, with soaring wooden skyscrapers completed or underway in countries like Norway, Switzerland and Australia. Sweden, likewise, has come up with a plan as big as a city — building the world’s biggest wooden city. As the world’s largest urban construction project in wood, Stockholm Wood City will be built in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm in 2025.
By using wood, the project is expected to reduce carbon footprint by up to 40%, compared with building in concrete and steel, says Annica Anäs, CEO of Atrium Ljungberg, a Swedish urban development company. Some people may have concerns over fire risks posed by wooden buildings, but experts say engineered timber (木材) can resist fire as well. As with other modern construction projects using wood, Wood City will still use some concrete and steel in places like the foundations, but the overall amounts will be greatly reduced. As wooden buildings are much lighter, their foundations can be smaller.
The construction will not be as noisy as it is built from concrete and bricks, adds Ms Anäs. This makes wooden buildings particularly suitable for urban redevelopment in general, since putting them up is less likely to annoy the neighbours. It should also be profitable. Ms Anäs is looking for a return on investment of 20% or better. “Sweden is progressive when it comes to wood construction,” she says.
The world’s largest wooden city is supposed to make commute (通勤) easier and shorter, decreasing emissions from transportation. The website for the project describes Stockholm Wood City as a “five-minute city”, which means that anywhere one would need to go — work, grocery stores, or school, for example—would only be a five-minute walk away. As Anäs concluded, “We want to create an environment where our customers, those who will live and work here, can participate in the development and design of the city district of the future.”
1. What is the project about?A.Making Stockholm a low-carbon city. |
B.Creating more wooden skyscrapers in Sweden. |
C.Building the highest wooden building in Europe. |
D.Constructing the largest wooden city in the world. |
A.They can strongly resist fires. |
B.They are more comfortable to live in. |
C.They are more environmentally friendly. |
D.They are built on a more stable foundation. |
A.They are profitable for investors. |
B.They cause less noise when built. |
C.They have a short construction period. |
D.They are less costly to maintain and repair. |
A.Secure. | B.Stressful. | C.Convenient. | D.Fashionable. |
People in Paris love the view of the city’s old
Dear headmaster, As president of Sullivan Junior High School’s student council, I have been chosen to write to you on behalf of the eighth grade class. We would like to propose an eighth grade promotion trip to Sea World in San Diego, California. We chose Sea World for several reasons. In science class, we have been studying oceans and the marine life. Going to Sea World would provide us with the opportunity to visit these creatures and to better understand their habitats. This could be a once in a lifetime experience for those of us who have never been outside Arizona. We will have lots of fun and learn at the same time. The close location of San Diego was also a factor in planning this trip. San Diego can be reached by bus in about six hours. If the buses leave Sullivan after school on Friday afternoon, we should arrive in California in time to have a late dinner and get settled into our hotel rooms before midnight. |
You may be asking yourself. “How will this trip be financed?” We are suggesting that the school host an “Oceans of Fun” night for family, friends, and community members for a small fee. The activities would be organized and supervised by eighth grade students. Some of our ideas for the night include a Surfer’s Snack Shop with homemade treats for sale, Pirate Pete’s Treasure hunt, and a short production of “A Whale of a Tale.” This would the best chance to show our ocean animal reports. Many of the eighth grade students have gone to school together since kindergarten. We believe that this trip would be a fantastic way to celebrate friendships. This trip may also be one of the last times we see our friends because students from Sullivan Junior High School attend four different high schools. We invite you to our next student council meeting on December 7, 2013, to discuss your thoughts and work out any concerns you still may have. Thank you for taking the time to consider our request for an eighth-grade promotion trip. Sincerely, Julie Martino |
1. Who has written this letter? What is she?
2. What idea has the author mainly expressed in Paragraph 4?
3. Why has the author written this letter?
4. Why does the author mention that many students have gone to school together since kindergarten in Paragraph 5?