1 . My parents, siblings and I took our first camping trip to the Lake Houston Wilderness Park recently.

We had finished putting up the ________ when it suddenly started to rain. Luckily, we had ________ our tent on a high flat ground where water could not pour in. Mom got some snacks and drinks ready for us while we played games and ________ about our daily life, which made wet-weather camping fun. How ________ it was camping under the sound of the rain! We were gathered around in the center of ________ and it was a nice feeling. Even with the rain, I had never been so ________.

The rain died down before dark and the sky turned clear. Soon, Mom ________ a big meal over the fire for the family. I sensed that a hot meal and good ________ would warm us right up. While we ate together, Dad ________ at the stars and told us about his childhood. As we laughed and ________ on our days, the stars shone like diamonds at night.

The following day, we had a good time ________ the rocky trails around our campsite. ________ hiking in the forest, we had a lovely late afternoon boating. It was amazing to see the ________ changing rays of the sunset behind the pine trees. That evening we packed up our ________ and headed home.

I am very grateful for this camping trip, which has left us unforgettable ________.

2 . Do you want to see majestic lions roaring, rare rhinos running and colorful birds flying? You’ll find this incredible display of nature in the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley.

First stop

Fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This great city is known for its fashion markets and beautiful art. And be sure to pick up some rich Kenyan coffee while you’re there! Then head for the countryside.

Plan your trip

The largest of the three lakes in the system, Lake Nakuru, is less than 175 kilometers from Nairobi. But Lakes Bogoria and Elementaita are equally worth a visit. You can stay at one of several choices of luxurious cabins in the valley. And if you sign up for a trip, be sure to put flamingos, the white and pink birds, at the top of your list.

Paradise

The Kenya Lake System is shallow and alkaline (碱性的). That means it supports vegetation such as green algae, a food source for many waterfowl. Hundreds of species of birds flourish here, using this area as a major breeding and nesting ground. Water buffalo, leopards, monkeys and the endangered Rothschild giraffe also make this area their home.

Other sights

Wildlife isn’t the only natural wonder in the Great Rift Valley. The valley marks a place where the earth is divided far below the surface. This rock separation below ground leads to noticeable features above ground. Walking around Lake Bogoria especially, you will see steam rising from hot springs.

Other activities include golfing, horseback riding and hiking. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either. The river valley is far from city lights, so many visitors gaze at the stars shining above.

If you are ready for a wildlife experience, don’t hesitate!

3 . Four Unique U.S. National Parks

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

If you’re looking for interesting red and pink rocks, you can’t do better than Bryce Canyon. The national park is known for its attractive rock formations and hoodoos (石林). Some of the best places to visit in the park are the Natural Bridge, Fairyland Canyon, or any of the scenic viewpoints throughout the park.

Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada

It’s the hottest and driest national park in the country, but it’s also a place of beautiful desert sights and interesting natural phenomena, like the sailing stones on the Racetrack Playa. Depending on where you are in the park the climate can be extreme—it's home to snowy mountains, dry desert, colorful flower fields, and cool lakes. You might also recognize it as the planet of Tatooine from the original Star Wars movies.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Arizona offers way more than just the Grand Canyon. This ancient forest in the middle of the desert isn’t what you’d typically expect-it’s way more interesting. The forest became fossilized (石化) over time as minerals like quartz slowly replaced the wood remains. The result is multi-colored stone logs (原木) that are too amazing to pass up. Just don’t take home any free souvenirs-many visitors are fined by taking rocks.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Great Basin National Park might be one of the best parks in the state of Nevada. Just a visit to the Lehman Caves or the Lexington Arch (a rare, giant, above-ground limestone arch) will have you convinced. It’s also known for having some of the darkest skies in the continental U.S., so astronomy lovers will jump at the chance to see the night sky when they visit.

With the days    1    ( grow) colder, Pasang has made preparations for the winter by purchasing    2    generous amount of natural gas to warm his home.

“In the past, we burned cattle dung (牛粪) for heating. The rooms would be covered with dust, and the sky would sometimes get gray,” said Pasang, a resident of Lhasa, capital of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

His home was connected by natural gas pipelines seven years ago. “With the gas, my home is warmer, and we are also contributing    3    bluer skies,” he said.

Now, the signature blue skies dotted with white clouds not only give local people a breath of fresh air but are also a vital part of the region’s charm for visitors from home and abroad. The wide use of natural gas is one of the keys behind the clean air in Tibet. “In Lhasa’s case, so far natural gas    4    (adopt) for heating in more than 90 percent of its urban area,” said a local company in charge of natural gas supplies.

Amid the country’s boom of new energy vehicles (NEVs),Tibet is also popularizing NEVs while phasing out (淘汰) older cars with high pollution and high energy    5    (consume).

Electric cars are also gaining    6    (popular) for their eco-friendly features and lower costs. Penpa, another resident in Lhasa, said he and many of his friends have replaced their traditional vehicles with electric ones. “Everyone should make an effort    7    (keep) the air clear in Lhasa,” Penpa said.

Atop a mountain over 5,000 meters above sea level, the Ali observatory — more than 1,400 km from Lhasa — is still frequented by astronomy lovers    8    brave (勇敢面对) a zigzagging road to get a much    9    (close) look at the stars.

Zhou Yunhe, director of the observatory, said more than 3,100 tourists have visited the observatory since the turn of the year.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, Tibet received 36.89 million tourists in the first three    10    (quarter) this year, up 15.2 percent year on year, and tourism revenue surged 26.6 percent, official data showed.

It wasn’t until the rise of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 that the Great Wall of China we know today    1    (build). The Ming Dynasty   had to   deal with   a   great   number of attacks   from   minority tribes(部落), so it made extensive additions to the wall.

The    2    (long) and complexity of the Ming wall beat all the former ones. The dynasty also    3    (add) double and triple walls in some places    4    (strengthen) previously built structures and confuse attackers. In fact, in many places the wall is wide enough on top for someone to drive a car on it,     5    (reach) about 6.7 meters. Although the wall has a remarkable girth(周长), it’s not visible from outer space     6     the old myth says. If that were true, major highways would be visible too — many are much     7     (large) than the Great Wall.

Construction on the Great Wall was     8     ongoing and successful effort under the Ming Dynasty until the 17th century, when it could no longer defeat the efforts of the Manchu. This takeover,    9     brought down the Ming Dynasty and gave rise to the Qing Dynasty,     10    (effective) stopped the Great Wall’s development, which spanned more than 2,000 years.