1 . English businessman Richard Branson made history on July 11, 2021 as he and three other crewmates became the world’s first space tourists. The flight was made by a spacecraft named VSS Unity that was built by Branson’s company, Virgin Galactic. The flight lasted slightly more than an hour, and took Branson and crew to an altitude (海拔) of 53.5miles above the Earth, just a little above the boundary (边界) of space which lies 50 miles above the Earth.

At that height, the atmosphere turns into the black of outer space and the Earth becomes a bent ball of blue. Travelers also exhibit weightlessness as there is no gravity, the force that keeps our bodies walking on the Earth’s surface. Therefore, Branson and his fellows were able to float around in VSS Unity while enjoying the views. They were able to do that for three minutes before the spacecraft began its downward journey. It landed back at Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico, United States, which is the same place from where it had taken off 90 minutes before.

On landing back, Branson said, “I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid but honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of the Earth from space. It was just magical. I’m just taking it all in, and it’s unreal.”

July 11’s flight is the start of space tourism for one and all. In early 2022, customers who can afford a ticket for a quarter of a million dollars can line up for a seat on a trip to space. And guess what — they will have a choice of spacecraft. Jeff Bezos, who owns a famous company, is all set to launch himself into space on July 20 on board a spacecraft built by his new branch company Blue Origin. Blue Origin will also carry tourists to space.

Huishan Ancient Town in Wuxi, East China’s Jiangsu province, is known as one of the four best spots in China     1     (appreciate) autumn scenery along with Anhui’s Hongcun village, Tachuan village, and Jiangxi’s Huangli. There are some ancient towns in the Jiangnan region, while Huishan town is unique. The ancient town not only has small     2     (bridge)a nd streaming rivers, but also has green mountains. In addition to delicious food, the town has     3     easy-going living environment.

Two emperors in the Qing Dynasty visited Huishan seven times     4     total and ancient literati (文人) left numerous poems and stories about the ancient town. Jichang Garden in the town is     5     (absolute) a necessary stop in autumn.     6     (build) beside Huishan Mountain, Jichang Garden     7     (transform) into a colorful palette (调色板) with mountains and rivers perfecting each other in the autumn.

The town’s 1,600-year-old Huishan Temple is home to a 600-year-old tree,     8     is still strong and covered with thick golden yellow leaves in late autumn,     9     (attract) plenty of tourists and local residents. Huishan town also has an Azalea Garden that in spring produces bright red azaleas (杜鹃花), and the view is highly    10     (impress).

Elephant Trunk Hill lies     1     two rivers meet, one of them is the famous Li River of

Guilin city in Guangxi, and it is the symbol of Guilin. The hill was     2     (former) named Li Hill and resembles (像) a giant elephant standing in the river, drinking water through its trunk. Thus, the mountain was named Elephant Trunk Hill.     3     (date) back to as early as the Tang and Song dynasties, the hill has been a famous tourist     4     (attract) over 1,000 years of history. The scenic area combines unique rocks, beautiful waterways, special caves and numerous cliff stone carvings, which make it enjoy a high reputation worldwide.

Ranging     5     historical significance to cultural richness, we are grateful to witness such a breathtaking landscape. The     6     (commerce) value of this site is undeniable, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe who take advantage of its beauty.    7     (be)frank, few places offer such a diverse blend of natural and historical elements. Visitors may occasionally complain about crowds, but     8     response from the authorities has been positive, aiming to enhance the overall experience. The     9     (reject) of modern developments preserves its natural beauty. The site continues to inspire future generations to come. Energetic and flexible, it     10     (adapt) to the changing times while maintaining its essence (本质).