1 . The world is a vast and beautiful place, full of natural wonders and man-made marvels. From the ancient ruins of Rome to the Great Wall of China, there are countless places that make us proud of our ancestors.
Heritage is our legacy. It is what we pass down to our children and grandchildren. Heritage helps us to understand the past. It can teach us about our ancestors and their culture. Heritage can inspire us.
We can all do our part to help preserve these sites. Learn more about the sites that are on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Together, we can make a difference.
A.It can give us hope for the future. |
B.Choose sustainable lifestyles every day. |
C.Future generations can be more responsible. |
D.Unfortunately, many of them are under threat. |
E.Let’s work together to preserve these incredible sites. |
F.The more you know, the better you do in the preservation. |
G.But these places are not just important for our own enjoyment. |
2 . WHY SHENNONGJIA?
As we know, in 2016, Shennongjia made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. But there are so many important places not yet on this list. So you might ask: why Shennongjia?
UNESCO awarded Shennongjia this status because it meets two criteria required by the list. It contains a naturally-balanced environment that allows the many and various species to live and prosper. It is also one of the rare locations in the world where scientists can observe in real time the ecological and biological processes that occur as the plants and animals develop and evolve.
For the first criterion, Shennongjia is apparently one of the most “complete” natural areas in the world. The region rises from about 400 metres to over 3, 000 metres above sealevel, giving it the name the “Roof of Central China”.
For the second criterion, we can see that Shennongjia has incredible biodiversity. Look at this slide. According to official statistics, over 3, 000 plant species have been recorded there. This represents more than ten percent of China’s total floral richness.
It is a challenge to look after so many species. In winter, scientists brave heavy snow and freezing temperatures to supply food to the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Thanks to their efforts, the monkey’s population has doubled since the 1980s.Their number reached over 1, 300 in 2015 and continues to grow.
But the most impressive aspect of Shennongjia is the local people, who take things from nature without causing damage. I visited a local village which is known for its home-made honey. What is special about the honey is that it is produced by the earliest species of Chinese bee. All of this explains why Shennongjia earned—and deserves—its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as highlighting how understanding, awareness and hard work have contributed towards protecting a unique and wonderful part of our natural world.
1. Why is Shennongjia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List?A.Because its forests stretch on and on like great green seas. |
B.Because it is the legendary father of Chinese herbal medicine. |
C.Because it satisfies the two requirements for the status. |
D.Because it has the mysterious creature called “Yeren”. |
A.Roof of Central China | B.Roof of Northern China |
C.Roof of Eastern China | D.Roof of Southern China |
A.Patient. | B.Careful. | C.Confident. | D.Hard-working. |
A.A local village. | B.The local people. |
C.Some special monkeys. | D.The wild bees. |
3 . If you’d like to go sightseeing, the following World Heritage sites (世界遗产保护地) may be your best choices.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China, reaches a height of more than 4,800m, with a series of different forest ecosystems (生态系统). It’s particularly famous for its narrow landforms and excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. Jiuzhaigou Valley was recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1992.
Khami Ruins National Monument
The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological (考古的) interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time. It joined the World Heritage List in 1986.
Henderson Island
Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls (环礁) in the world whose ecology (生态) has been untouched by humans. It is particularly famous for the 10 plants and 4 birds that can only be seen on the island. It was recorded in the World Heritage List in 1988.
Old City of Jerusalem
As a holy (神圣的) city for three different religions in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance. It was given a World Heritage Status in 1981 and placed on the “World Heritage in Danger List” the following year.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Jiuzhaigou Valley?A.Wonderful waterfalls can be seen there. |
B.It is famous for many ancient objects. |
C.It has been untouched by human beings. |
D.It lies in the southern part of Sichuan Province. |
A.was ruined in the mid-16th century |
B.was once business center for trade |
C.has over 140 kinds of birds living there |
D.is a holy city for three major religions |
A.Henderson Island. | B.Khami Ruins National Monument. |
C.Old City of Jerusalem. | D.Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area. |
Though once secluded (与世隔绝的), even inaccessible, Kazakhstan today welcomes intrepid travelers with open arms.
Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked (内陆的) country, and the
Even for some
But for those
Panfilov Park in the eastern-center of Almaty has plenty
National parks are places to be treasured—places
6 . The Vjosa River, one of the last wild rivers in Europe, has been declared a national park by the Albanian government, making it become the first wild river park on the continent.
Home to more than 1,000 animal and plant species, the river flows for 270 kilometers, from Greece, through Albania and into the Adriatic Sea. Giving the credit to no dams or other artificial barriers, it is rich in aquatic species and supports a large number of wildlife species, including otters, the endangered Egyptian vulture and the critically endangered Balkan lynx.
The wild river national park will include almost 13,000 acres of land, crossing most of the body of the country, with thousands of people living in its surroundings. The decision to establish the park is more important than people may realize. For years, the Vjosa’s fragile ecosystem has been under threat: at one point as many as 45 hydropower plants (水 电 站) were planned to build across the region. But thanks to the campaigning by environmental NGOs, the tiny Balkan nation was placed at the forefront of river protection.
Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, described the creation of the national park as a “truly historic moment” for nature as well as social and economic development. “Today we protect the only wild river in Europe once and for all,” he said. “This is about to change a mindset. Protecting an area does not mean that you make it in isolation from the economy.” He said national parks attract 20% more tourists compared with non-protected areas.
The park will cover the 118 miles of the Vjosa in Albania, three main tributaries (支流), and some land, including areas at risk of flooding. Phase II will add other tributaries. Unlike the IUCN's Wilderness Protected Areas, which limit the number of visitors, it will allow recreational tourism and some other activities such as local fishing, particularly for 60,000 residents in the catchment.
“We hope it will inspire others to come together to protect the wild places we have left, in a meaningful way,” said Ryan Gellert, Patagonia’s CEO, adding that the park was proof that the “destruction of nature did not have to be the price of progress”.
1. What makes the Vjosa River rich in wild species?A.Sufficient water. |
B.The government's policies. |
C.The large area of fertile land. |
D.The absence of human disturbance. |
A.It helps to establish hydropower plants. |
B.It relieves the power shortage in Albania. |
C.It strengthens the protection of Vjosa's ecosystem. |
D.It promotes the development of the local wild land. |
A.Building the park is beneficial to the economy. |
B.More wild rivers need to be protected in Europe. |
C.Non-protected areas will inspire a boom in tourism. |
D.Social progress comes at the cost of the natural environment. |
A.It includes more tributaries. |
B.It limits the number of visitors. |
C.It covers areas at high risk of flooding. |
D.It combines leisure activities with tourism. |
7 . Just as we take care of our friends and families, our homes and Mother Earth take care of us. Our homes give us a place of shelter that
“Thank you, home, for allowing me to live
You can do so as often as you like and anytime you feel particularly thankful for the many gifts that you have
A.bend | B.handle | C.react | D.stand |
A.unselfish | B.skillful | C.cheerful | D.amazing |
A.animals | B.oceans | C.plants | D.waters |
A.promote | B.show | C.influence | D.satisfy |
A.sources | B.memories | C.power | D.strength |
A.Express | B.Accept | C.Ban | D.Deserve |
A.attacks | B.attracts | C.appreciates | D.provides |
A.fond | B.aware | C.informed | D.confident |
A.accused | B.robbed | C.warned | D.reminded |
A.road | B.word | C.way | D.place |
A.safe | B.dull | C.quiet | D.public |
A.though | B.because | C.unless | D.until |
A.beside | B.beyond | C.within | D.in |
A.admitting | B.supporting | C.challenging | D.surviving |
A.live | B.call | C.focus | D.feed |
A.examine | B.explain | C.experience | D.describe |
A.adventure | B.wisdom | C.loss | D.honor |
A.anger | B.worry | C.joy | D.desire |
A.brought | B.purchased | C.exchanged | D.received |
A.shocks | B.monitors | C.protects | D.follows |
8 . Set 40 kilometers northeast of the city of Ambatondrazaka, the Zahamena National Park's landscape consists of (……组成) valleys surrounded by a flowing mountain range.
It has an overall land coverage of 64, 300 hectares, but only 42, 000 hectares is open to the public due to strict conservation (环境保护) reasons. It receives an average yearly rainfall level of about 6 feet and experiences frequent rain showers even during the dry season between April and October.
One really interesting thing about the Zahamena National Park is that the unique territory of its highland has paved the way for the development of several ecosystems that exist at the same time in this park. This is the reason why the types of wildlife living in one area are different in another, which makes it quite exciting to explore.
This protected area is divided into two parts, with a separate piece of land in the middle where many small villages are situated. These villages are inhabited (居住) by the members of the Sihanaka and Betsimisaraka ethnic groups.
The Zahamena National Park gets its name from the local Zahana Mena tree, an uncommon type of hardwood that grows in the lower regions of this protected area. It is characterized by its resilient (坚韧的) wood that can be rather challenging to cut, join, shape and carve even with modern tools.
Established as a strict natural highland reserve in 1927 (and one of the first of its kind in all of Madagascar), the Zahamena National Park was officially given its national park status (地位) in 1997 and was eventually opened to the public. Due to its remarkable territory and unique biodiversity, this national park was later listed as a key part of the collective UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Rainforests of the Atsinanana in 2007.
1. What can we learn about the Zahamena National Park?A.It is surrounded by the city of Ambatondrazaka. |
B.It receives little rainfall during the dry season. |
C.It is partially open to the public. |
D.It is divided into three parts. |
A.The strict conservation rules. | B.The unique weather conditions. |
C.The special territory of its highland. | D.The influence of several local villages. |
A.An ethnic group. | B.A type of local tree. |
C.A traditional tool. | D.A nearby city. |
A.A brief introduction to the Zahamena National Park. |
B.A complete guide to visiting the Zahamena National Park. |
C.Details of Zahamena National Park's great efforts in conservation. |
D.Reasons for Zahamena National Park becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
9 . The National Parks Service has confirmed the discovery of an ancient crab (螃蟹) fossil (化石) found along the shores of Assateague Island National Seashore.
Sharon Conn, a visitor to the area, found the fossil in early October on the shore of Assateague Island. “It is very uncommon to find fossils of this nature. We have a very small number in our museum collection. That is what makes this discovery very exciting,” Liz Davis chief of Assateague Island National Seashore said.
The parks service identified the rare blue crab fossil with the help of the Department of Paleobiology. Matthew Mille, museum specialist at the National Museum of Natural History, tested the fossil to find out how it is. He concluded it was likely from the Pleistocene age, about 2 million years ago. “The extra rock around it is such a well tough ground that it can’t be easily eroded (腐蚀),” he said. “The claw did erode a bit though — which is why it isn’t immediately recognized as a claw. Gone are the tips and parts of the infilled area where the original flesh would have been through, making the whole fossil looks a bit strange.”
The fossil was found on public land and is protected by law. Davis told the Daily Times it was currently at the National Parks Service Toms Cove Visitor Center in Virginia. “We hope to have a small collection of fossils on display at the NPS Assateague Island Vistior Center in Maryland later in 2022,” said Davis.
1. What does Liz Davis think of the ancient crab fossil?A.It is invaluable. | B.It is very old. | C.It is imperfect. | D.It is rare. |
A.Around 2 million years old. |
B.2 million years old. |
C.3 million years old. |
D.Less than 2 million years old. |
A.Sharon Conn. | B.The country. | C.Liz Davis. | D.The National Parks Service. |
A.A Lucky Visitor. | B.Assateague Island. |
C.An Ancient Blue Fossil. | D.An Important Discovery. |
On the north bank of Fuxian Lake in Chengjiang County, Yunnan Province sits a straw-hat-shaped mountain
Scientists have obtained a large number of research results on Chengjiang Fossil Site. The reason why Chengjiang fauna (动物群) is
Up to now, more than 20 phyla and more than 280 species
The UNESCO evaluation says the Chengjiang Fossil Site is one of the