1 . Travel enthusiasts fifty years ago talked about travelling to fascinating places around the world. Today the talk is about going beyond the world and the Earth. The thirst is creating a demand for space travel, giving rise to space tourism.
The space fights are not cheap - each flight into outer space costs about U.S. $20 million. Up till now, it has solely been enjoyed by a few adventurous super-ich men. To reduce the high cost of space travel for the mass market, space travel agencies now have a creative plan to offer suborbital flights, which cost much less. These joyrides will enable the tourists to reach the edge of space, which is more than 62 miles above the Earth, and allow them the experience of a few minutes of weighlessness as they gaze at the Earth below, before they return down to Earth again.
Space tourism is, however, not an environmentally friendly adventure. The black carbon emitted by the spacecraft could either raise temperatures at the poles, causing a melting of the ice or lead to rising temperatures, contributing to global warming. The emission of black carbon also causes the ozone molecules to break apart, contributing to several kilotons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Looking beyond Earth, an increase in space travel would mean that Man would not only leave his footprint in space but also his waste—space tourism can contribute to pollution of the environment of the outer space. With no current plans for waste disposal, one can only imagine clumps of litter floating around the planets.
Without doubt, space tourism opens up new exciting possibilities. With time, the price of the flights to space would become more reasonable. Increasing commercialization of space travel would also mean that a structure would be put in place for the disposal of space waste. However, with no immediate solution to counter the possible impact on climate changes and the thinning of the ozone layer, space tourism would probably prove to be yet another controversial (有争议的) venture of mankind.
1. What push space tourism to develop?| A．Investment from millionaires. | B．Talks between travel enthusiasts. |
| C．People’s ambition to travel. | D．Human’s travel habits and customs. |
| A．By reaching the orbit of the spaceship. |
| B．By cutting the distance of space travelling. |
| C．By allowing the people to travel alone in space. |
| D．By guiding travelers to gaze at the earth when landing. |
| A．The high cost of space fight. | B．Causing global warming. |
| C．The lack of waste disposal project. | D．Further Ozone layer build-up. |
| A．The Next Tourist Attraction: Space |
| B．Pros and Cons: Space Science Is on the Way |
| C．A Milestone in Technology: Manned Spaceship |
| D．A Controversial Program: Travel for the Ozone Layer. |
2 . Some of the best cycling routes in the world pass through its most beautiful scenery. Here are some of world’s best bike routes for cyclists who either are up for breaking a good sweat or simply seeing the world without leaving an ugly carbon footprint behind.
The Great Windy Road, Victoria, Australia
If you like a challenge, take on this 243-kilometer windy road along Australia’s south-eastern coast. If a day is all you’ve got, take the 60-kilometer route from Torquay to Bells Beach. There you’ll cycle through rural farmland, enjoy the sweeping ocean views from cliff tops, and snake past the wetlands around Lake Connewarre.
Udaipur City Tour, Rajasthan, India
Biking is arguably the best way to explore Udaipur, Venice of the East.
Cyclists often need to cycle past herdsmen and their goats and camels, sharing narrow, old pavements in this romantic place. But surrounded by ancient castles, temples and grand palaces, Udaipur brings about one of the best biking experiences, allowing cyclists to truly discover rural India.
The Karakoram Highway, China-Pakistan
The Karakoram Highway is the highest international road in the world, reaching an altitude of 4,700 meters at the Khunjerab Pass. Starting in Kashgar, China, cyclists can travel up to 1,200 kilometers on mostly unpaved roads, but the views are as breathtaking as the riding.
Route of the Hiawatha, Idaho-Montana, United States
Take your family out to Montana this summer and cycle along the most scenic disused railroad in the country. The railroad turned bike trail turns into 24 kilometers of leisure biking that takes you over seven trestles(高架桥) and through 10 tunnels, with the longest one, the Taft Tunnel, stretching for 2.7 kilometers.
1. In which tour can you enjoy the seaside scenery?| A．The Great Windy Road. | B．Udaipr City Tour. |
| C．The Karakoram Highway. | D．Route of the Hiawatha. |
| A．Go to Venice. | B．Feed wild animals. |
| C．Visit cultural relics. | D．Enjoy modern architectures. |
| A．It is a totally undeveloped route. | B．It goes along an abandoned railway. |
| C．It owns the longest tunnel in the world. | D．It lies higher than other international roads. |
