2 . More than half the world’s population live in cities, and by 2050 the UN expects that proportion to reach 68%. This means more homes, roads and other infrastructure. Such a construction ________ does harm to tackling climate change, though, because making steel and concrete generates around 8% of the world’s carbon-dioxide emissions. If cities are to ________ and become greener at the same time, they will have to be made from something else.

As it happens, Chicago might become part of the ________. In recent years, as architects have become increasingly interested in modern timber (木材) — construction methods, wooden buildings have been getting steadily ________. The current record is held by the 85-metre-tall Mjostarnet building in Norway, completed in 2019. But this would be ________ by the River Beech Tower, a 228-metre building proposed for a site beside the Chicago river.

As the AAAs meeting heard this week, wood is one of the most ________ sustainable alternatives to steel and concrete. It is not, however, everyday wood but a material called engineered timber, composed of different layers for specific purposes. Besides engineering the shape of a component, designers can arrange the grains (纹理) in the layers to provide levels of ________ that equal steel, in a product that is up to 80% lighter. Engineered timber is, ________, usually assembled into large sections of a building in a factory. That cuts down on the number of ________ that have to be made to a construction site.

All this ________ to carbon-dioxide emissions. Michael Ramage of the University of Cambridge told the meeting of a 300-square-metre four-storey wooden building that generated 126 tonnes of CO₂. Had it been made with ________, emissions would have risen to 310 tonnes. If steel had been used, they would have topped 498 tonnes. Indeed, from one point of view, this building might actually be viewed as “carbon ________”. When trees grow, they lock carbon up in their wood — in this case the equivalent of 540 tonnes of CO₂, representing a long-term reduction of CO₂ from the atmosphere.

If building with wood takes off, it does raise concern about there being enough trees to ________. But with sustainably managed forests that should not be a problem, says Dr Ramage. A family-sized apartment requires about 30 cubic metres of timber, and he estimates Europe’s sustainable ________ alone grow that amount every seven seconds. Nor is fire a risk, for engineered timber does not burn easily, because the inner cores of large ________ timbers are protected by a charring (炭化) layer if burnt.

3 . About 20 minutes away from River Campus, one might ______ sounds of magical flights at the mysterious Mushroom House of Powder Mills Park. The private houses, seen as the landmark of Town of Perinton, show off extraordinary architectural ______ with tree-like doors and wooden sculptured, treasure-filled mosaics, and naturalistic components in both in-side and ______ .

This odd artistic ______ has gained the Mushroom House its own official website and widespread media coverage. Since the house's ______ , it has actively been covered by many media. Much like Disney's Pixie Hollow, the Mushroom House appears to be a collection of “found” parts. The ______ starts from the underground garage to the tunnel, a reminder of the University's tunnel system, appearing the outer of the Mushroom House.

The ______ tops and inner branches of the Mushroom House are in good condition, ______ to aha old mushrooms found in a backyard. But the different types of glass, with their unique shapes and materials, used to build walls of the Great Room and the master bathroom lend the inside a colorful personality. Though ______ the curved (曲线) of the ceilings in all four mushrooms create acoustics (音响效果) that its website ______ that of Carnegie Hall in New York City. ______ builders Peter Strong and William Ash ton, the four 80- ton Mush-room House were built from models on the ground. The outside Mushroom House was then ______ with works of art, including fashionable lighting and handmade bricks, hobbit-like doors, tree and ______ sculptured, sand-molded walls and ceilings, custom wood furniture, and iron failings.

These works of art were all designed and ______ by local artists. Though this seems like a dream, it ______ a sweet past.

4 . When I was 25 years old, I had a big dream in my mind. I wanted to travel around Africa with my _______. So I left my hometown with great confidence and arrived in Cape Town, not really _______ what to do next._______, before my trip actually started, I met a kind, old Nigerian man. He gave me the best travel tips I had ever received. “Be like a(n) _______ on your way around the world.”

It sounded _______, but it really changed my idea about travelling. He helped me _______ that travel is about learning and observing local _______. It’s far too easy to go into a new country and believe your ways are better. “But if you study, ask questions, and try to _______ the locals, you’ll have far richer _______.” he promised me.

On other vacations, ________ I was on my tour way to Cancun, I was ________ a tourist. I only stayed there for a week to see the sights and place of interest and then left. The culture didn’t ________ me. I left the cities and towns without really knowing a anyone or anything that existed (存在) in those places to which I had paid a visit.

This time, I promised to myself that I would a ________ traveler. After seven months of ________ backpacking in Africa from Cape Town to Cairo, I realized that having a student-like mindset (观念模式) helped extend my trip and helped me learn a lot, which ________ me more than any other trips ever did to me.

The 600-year-old Forbidden City is the world’s largest palace. It _________ more than 17 million _________ every year. If we were to travel back to the past, this huge palace would be a _________ to us with a lot remaining to be discovered.

It was when all _________ in Beijing were low except for the Forbidden City, which was surrounded by high _________ and a wide moat (护城河). After _________ the golden roof (屋顶) from the outside, people could only _________ what it looked like inside.

Covering an area of 720, 000 square meters in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City was built from 1406 to 1420 by the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the past, the Forbidden City was where the highest _________ of the country lay. Emperors were born, lived and died there. Various _________ events happened there. It saw the ups and downs of the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as how feudal monarchy (封建帝制) ____________ came to an end in China.

The lives of the royal families were ____________ in many documents (文件). They ____________ a large amount of valuable material for today’s historical ____________, as well as inspiration for literature and entertainment.

In 1987, the Forbidden City was ____________ as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For state leaders who visit China, it is a must-see tourist ____________. When they pay a state visit to China, our top leaders may show them around there.

6 . My journey to isolation (隔离) was somewhat accidental.

I saw an advertisement for a job as a leader for an expedition (探险) to Antarctica-and I have to_________it was the penguin in the ad that_________my attention. The ad noted that they were looking for someone to lead a_________of expeditioners in one of the most_________and isolated places on the planet. I took part in an_________and then got a job that I knew I would regret if I didn’t_________it. Leading 18 strangers for a full year-through months of darkness and with no_________from the freezing cold -----I learned some_________lessons.

After the journey, I wrote two best-selling books and became a motivational speaker. Being in isolation meant I had to do lots of self_________.I kept a__________, and every day I would think__________of how I had operated as a leader. That discipline of__________myself taught me how to tell right from wrong.

I often think back to__________I saw the picture of the penguin that__________me to look at the ad for the job. It’s a moment that__________my life completely.

7 . Keep Your Goal in Sight

Here I am in the town of Livingstone close to Victoria Falls _______ was named after an earlier Queen of England, Victoria. There’s only one large-sized hotel _______ it’s full of atmosphere. The Falls themselves _______ the widest waterfall in the world with the largest _______ of falling water. It’s African name means “the smoke that thunders” and it has the most diverse wildlife found close to _______ waterfall.

As soon as I got to my hotel I was _______ to get my first glimpse of the river, but as our tour group walked along the winding path _______ the rainforest, I began to feel _______

As we got nearer I became filled with anxiety. My hands were _______ in sweat and my legs began to ________. As you know I hate heights. ________ our guide had some appreciation of what I was feeling and did not ________ me to the front but let me approach the walkway across the Falls slowly. ________ I saw, when I did look, was spectacular. A fountain of water poured over the edge to a deep drop. A permanent rainbow ________ above the spray ________ by the water as it hit the bottom of the Falls. The small drops of water seemed to form a gentle, wet fog around the people ________ they approached the edge. I gazed in wonder across to the other side of Victoria Falls where Zimbabwe ________. ________we were in Zambia and only a short distance________was a country where David Livingstone had done much of his exploring.

So if you are planning a holiday this year, come and visit Victoria Falls. It would certainly be __________ it.

Much love,

Clive

8 . When I was 25 years old, I had a big dream in my mind and lots of things in my backpack. I wanted to travel around Africa with my _______. So I left my hometown with great confidence and _______ in Cape Town on a one-way ticket, not really _______ what to do next. _______, before my trip actually started, I met a kind, old Nigerian man. He gave me the best travel _______ I ever received: “Be like a student on your way around the world.”

It sounds _______, but it really changed my mind about travelling. He helped me _______ that travel is about learning and observing different _______. “It’s far too easy to go into a(n) _______ country for you and believe your ways are better. But if you study, ask questions, and ________ to learn from the locals, you’ll have far richer ________, ”he promised me.

On other trips ________ I was on my tour way to Cancun, I didn’t know the man so I was just a ________. I only stayed there for a week to see the ________ and places of interest and then left. The culture didn’t ________ me. I left the cities and towns without really ________ anyone or anything. Those people and things ________ in those very places to which I had ________ a visit.

This time, I promised myself that I would be a ________ student traveller. After seven months of ________ travelling from Cape Town to Cairo, I returned home. Having a student-like attitude helped me learn a lot. This trip satisfied me more than any other trip ever did to me.

9 . Mr. Thomas had always wanted to make a trip into the middle of Africa to shoot wild animals. ____first he had not had enough money, and　____he had married. His wife had not wanted him to　____her. At last his wife　____to the trip if he allowed her to go, ____.

“But it will be very uncomfortable, ” Mr. Thomas warned her. “It will be very　____and we shall live in a tent, and it　____ be dangerous. ”

“I don’t　____. ” said his wife. “I want to go with you. ” So they bought a big tent, camp beds, and a refrigerator, which did not need　____and many other things, which would make the trip comfortable, and went off to the　____of Africa.

The first morning, before Mr. Thomas took his gun and left the tent, he　____his wife a bell and explained to her, “If you feel in　____and you need me, ____this bell and I’ll come at once. ”

After a few minutes, he heard the bell and returned　____to the tent. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “____”, said his wife, “I was only trying the bell. ”

Mr. Thomas went off, but after a quarter of an hour, the bell rang　____. Mr. Thomas hurried back to the tent, but his wife said, “I’m　____. I want cleaning our tent, and I knocked the bell by mistake. ”

Mr. Thomas returned to his hunting, but soon he heard the　____ once more, This time, when he got back to his　____, the tent was burning and Mrs. Thomas was lying on the ground, with　____ running from a big cut on her shoulder. “That’s better!” said Mr. Thomas. “This time the bell had been used correctly!”