1 . The Biggest Events in the States

Mardi Gras

Mobile, Alabama

Attendance: One million

Believe it or not, the Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile is even older than the one in New Orleans since this Gulf Coast city has much of the same French and Cajun culture as the latter. The celebration dates back to 1703 and includes nearly a month of parades, running from mid-January up through Late February.

Mount Marathon Race

Seward, Alaska

Attendance: 40, 000

This 103-year old tradition is the 10th-oldest foot race in America, but it’s by far the most scenic. The short-but-dangerous competition is held every July 4, racing up the side of Seward’s Mount Marathon through cliffs, waterfalls, and breathtaking views of southeast Alaska. Once at the top, racers look back down to the finish line with top finishers completing the three-mile roundtrip in just over 40 minutes.

Little Rock Riverfest

Little Rock, Arkansas

Attendance: 100, 000—200, 000

This annual music festival held along the Arkansas River has been running for over 40 years, bringing some of the biggest names in rock music. The festival runs every Memorial Day weekend, and this year featured Peter Frampton, Young the Giant, and Highly Suspect.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Norwich, Connecticut

Attendance: 300,000

In just five short years, little Norwich, Connecticut, has developed one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country, with an estimated 300, 000 people coming to this town of 40, 000 for bagpipes, beer, and plenty of Irish food. The mile-long parade is held on March 4, the early date giving people with other St. Patrick’s plans the chance to have two holidays, which might be a big reason for its popularity.

Xixi, located less than five kilometers from the West Lake in the west of Hangzhou, is China’s first national wetland park. The area covers about 10 square kilometers and it     1     (be) around for more than 1,500 years, although it was only recently reopened     2     (offer) visitors a chance to escape from the concrete of the city. Despite its growing popularity,     3     wetland’s winding waterways, thick greenery and wide     4     (variety) of wildlife guarantee its peaceful spots in nature.

Wetlands themselves are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems,     5     (act) as natural green lungs, water purification (净化) systems and flood control. But wetlands are     6     (serious) threatened by environmental pollution worldwide nowadays. More than 200square kilometers of wetland in the country have disappeared every year     7     average in the past decade, the China Institute for Marine Affairs warns. The wetlands of the Yellow and East China seas have lost up to 90 percent of their natural function, the institute reports,     8     makes the 226 plant species, 50 kinds of fish and aquatic (水生的) animals as well as 126 kinds of birds in Xixi even     9     (valuable).

Xixi’s native vegetation,     10     (water) by six crossing rivers, consists of subtropical mountainous swamp (沼泽) and evergreen forest.

9 . When I was in third grade, my family and I took on an unforgettable trip across the country. It turned out to be more than just a/an _______ journey; it was a journey of discovery into our _______. Every day, Dad _______ us with his trusty road map. Mom, the heart of our family, shared folk tales and painted pictures about the upcoming _______. We went through diverse _______from the thick forests to the vast deserts of the West.

One day, while hiking through the Grand Canyon, I _______   a particularly rough path. Frightened, I _______, not knowing how to proceed. That’s when my parents _______ .

As Dad showed me footholds, Mom coached me with calming _______and reminded me of the breathtaking views that lay ahead. Then, I________the confidence as my feet ________ solid ground again. When I finally overcame my fear, I felt we became ________ as a family.

From then on, every evening, we’d gather around a campfire for what we________called “Family Reflection Time”. During these sessions, we’d share laughs, ________, and insights from the day’s experiences.

The trip taught me that the true meaning of travel isn’t merely about reaching the destination but about the personal growth that happens on the route, and the family bonds formed when facing ________ together.

10 . If you decide to see the northern lights, consider heading to Canada, where they fill the sky 300 days a year in certain regions.

Yukon

With its sweeping landscapes and dramatic mountain views, Yukon is an outdoor lover’s dreamland. Take advantage of the brief window between the end of summer and first snowfall in autumn to combine outdoor activities like boating along the storied Yukon River with northern light watching.

Churchill

Home to wolves, foxes, whales, moose and snowy owls, Churchill is well known for its arctic wildlife. It also sees an average of 300 nights of northern light activity every year. With over a week in the wild, there’s a good chance you’ll spot the lights.

Nunavik

Nunavik is Quebec’s northernmost region and one of four areas in Canada. It is home to the country’s Inuit people. By day, travelers canoe or snowmobile to Vieux Fort-Chimo, a 19th-century fur trading post; hear elders tell stories of a nomadic (游牧的) way of life; and listen to traditional throat singing, or katadjak — all led by an Inuit guide. Under inky skies, the guide offers Inuit insights into the meaning of the light.

Jasper

Located in the Rocky Mountains, Jasper is home to the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve, making it one of the best — and most convenient — places to catch northern lights throughout the year.

An especially great time to visit is during the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival in October when experienced photographers from around the world host workshops to share their best tips and astronomers explain how to interpret space weather data to determine optimal viewing time.