The Xi’an City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived China’s long history. It     1     (build) originally to protect the city     2     the Tang dynasty and has now been completely restored (修复). It is possible       3     (walk) or bike the entire 14 kilometers.

We accessed the wall through the South Gate. The wall is 12 meters high and from here you can see streams of people moving inside and outside the City Wall.

After     4     (spend) some time looking at all the defensive equipment at the wall, we decided it was time for some action and what     5     (good) than to ride on a piece of history!

We     6     (hire) our bikes from the rental place at the South Gate. My bike was old and shaky     7     did the job. It took us about 3 hours to go all     8     way around the Xi’an City Wall. Supposedly you can do it in two hours, but we stopped at the different gates and     9     (watchtower) to take pictures or just to watch the local people going about their     10     (day) routines.

5 . While temperatures continue to climb, visitors are still coming to see Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border. The park is known as the hottest place on Earth. This past weekend, the temperatures climbed to 53.33℃. Most visitors at this time of year make it only a short distance to any area in the park before returning to the cool air in their vehicles.

Early information from the park service shows that across the nation’s 424 national parks, at least four people have died this year from heat-related causes. That includes a 65-year-old man from San Diego who was found dead at Death Valley earlier this month.

Death Valley National Park suggests visitors be careful and not have expectations of rescue. While park rangers (护林员) drive on park roads and can aid tourists in need, it is unsure that lost visitors will get help in time.

Physical activity can make the heat feel even worse and leave people exhausted. Alessia Dempster, who was visiting from Edinburgh, Scotland, said, “It’s very hot especially when there’s a gentle wind. You would think maybe that would give you some slight relief from the heat, but it just really does feel like an air blow dryer just going back in your face.”

Death Valley is a narrow area that is below sea level and surrounded by high mountains, the park service’s website says. The dry air and small plant coverage let sunlight heat up the park surface. The heat then becomes trapped in the valley.

Still, several areas in Death Valley continue to draw tourists. Badwater Basin, made up of salt flats, is considered the lowest point in all of North America. The 183-meter Ubehebe Crater dates back over 2,000 years. And Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise viewing spot.

Josh Miller, a visitor from Indianapolis who has been to 20 national parks so far, shared that feeling. “It’s hot, but the scenery is awesome,” he said.

6 . Yellowstone National Park, located in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, was established as the first national park in the United States. The park is a popular destination for visitors who enjoy ecological (生态的) tourism as it offers forests, mountains, and many ecosystems to explore. Some of Yellowstone’s most well­known landmarks are its geothermal (地热的) hot springs and geysers (间歇泉), the most famous of which is named Old Faithful.

Last fall, Lisa and her friends decided to take a camping trip to Yellowstone National Park. They arranged to stay at one of the park’s many convenient campsites. For their camping trip，they brought their backpacks, sleeping bags, and a cooler of food and drinks. They set up their tents immediately upon arriving at their campsite.

During their trip, Lisa and her friends hiked the many trails (小道) of the park, exploring its natural surroundings. In the forest, they saw a lot of local wildlife. Lisa was blown away by a family of grizzly bears, some gray wolves, and even bald eagles flying overhead. Unexpectedly, she seemed to quite enjoy being in such a great place. They were well protected. Outside of the woods, they admired the beauty of some of Yellowstone’s natural waterfalls.

Since Yellowstone contains many hot springs and the world’s largest area of active geysers, Lisa and her friends visited many different geyser sites.They even spent an afternoon swimming in Yellowstone’s Boiling River. Of all of the sites, Lisa and her friends agreed that Old Faithful was the most impressive. Lisa and her friends waited patiently for the geyser to erupt. After about 40 minutes, a stream of boiling water over 100 feet tall sprayed (喷洒) from the ground and up into the air. Luckily, no one got wet!

The recent hit in China is all about Harbin, Helongjiang. Numerous netizens have expressed their longing for this northern ice city,     1     (enthusiastic) declaring, “Harbin, I’m coming!”

Among those highlights,     2     journey of 11 kids from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has melted hearts across the Internet. Chinese netizens have been eagerly following their adventures online.

Fondly (深情地)     3     (describe) as “Little Tangerines (柑橘)” for their orange-colored coats, the kids also visited China’s northernmost town,     4     they sang the national anthem. The firefighters there had prepared snow sculptures and snowmen, eagerly expecting the     5     (arrive) of the “Little Tangerines”. Mr. Liang, the leader of the group, confirmed their coming in Mohe.

This study tour, under the spotlight of the entire Internet,     6     (draw) a lot of attention. The parents are grateful for the concern shown by netizens and the care provided by friends in the Northeast China. They feel more     7     ease with everyone’s collective support.

    8     was reported that the residents organized a fleet of about 300 private vehicles,     9     (provide) free rides to tourists. Despite the city’s freezing climate, its residents work diligently     10     (create) a warm environment for their guests.

Jiuzhai Valley. or Jiuzhaigou, is a picturesque fairyland, featuring fascinating scenery of colorful lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and mountains. People say that if there should be a wonderland on earth, Jiuzhaigou National Park must be one.

    1    (situate) in Jiuzhaigou County, Jiuzhaigou National Park is about 450 kilometres to the north of Chengdu. Roads     2    (wander) along through the valley make     3    hard for tourists to drive there. The first thing you see there is forest. Full of a sense of a primitive forest, Jiuzhai Valley is isolated from the hustle and bustle and bustle of cities. With the seasons changing, the forest presents a     4    (various) of fantastic looks. It is also    5    kingdom of water. The lakes there,     6    are surrounded by ancient trees and flowers, are crystal clear and green all year round. As the light changes and the seasons go by, the lakes take    7    different colors.

Jiuzhai Valley is    8    (particular) picturesque in autumnal colors. Warm days, cool nights, and great     9    (view) of saturated yellows, reds and greens reflecting off the blue lakes are characteristic of autumn there. Nearly half of the 720-square-kilometre Jiuzhai Valley    10    (cover) by autumn colors.

10 . A view of endless vineyards (葡萄园) and hills dotted with homes that have been around for centuries is just one example of what you can see in Italy.

    1    , from the high fashion of Milan in the north and the galleries in Florence to ancient ruins in Rome and the scenic islands of Corsica and Sardinia.

Of course, the first thing one might think about is the food! And in Italian culture, food is very important.

Italy is often associated with pasta, but do you know there are literally hundreds of different kinds? Also, the names of the pasta can differ from region to region.     2    .

While food is definitely a defining part of Italian culture, the true heart of the culture is the family unit and the sense of pride in one’s community. For Italians, food and family go hand-in-hand.     3    . Meals often last for hours. This is the time for people to gather with friends and family to not only enjoy food, but talk and spend time together.

Another important part of the daily life in Italy is the siesta (午休) or riposo (to rest)— a time when businesses close from 1 pm to 4 pm.     4    .

In the evening, many Italians like to take a walk around the town, a routine known as a passegiata. People will take leisurely walks, greet one another and maybe catch up (朋友小聚) over a coffee.

    5     when temperatures start to warm up. Every August, many businesses shut down for the month so that families can enjoy the seaside and escape the heat.

Whether it is a good conversation, a glass of wine or just a splendid view of the countryside, Italy is a place where people take time to enjoy the small things in life.