3 . Take a step back in time and enjoy these once-in-a-lifetime train journeys.

The Rocky Mountaineer

Most notable are the wonderful views from your seat thanks to the big glass windows that bring the outside in along with good meals.

There are four roads to take. A favorite is the Coastal Package, which provides special Pacific Ocean views from Seattle to Vancouver before traveling through the Canadian borders.

One-to-fourteen-night packages are available.

Minimum price: $600.

Seven Stars in Kyushu

Considered one of Japan’s best trains, this service features (以……为特征) only seven carriages and 14 rooms. The train name, Seven Stars, stands for the seven most important aspects of the journey to Kyushu: the quality of the service, food, nature, hot springs, power spot, the friendliness of its people and history. Choose from a one-night trip or a four-day journey that takes you around the island in southern Japan.

Minimum price: $1,600.

The Maharajas’ Express

There’s no better way to take in the Taj Mahal than on Maharajas’ Express. Each of the 14 guest carriages is named after the famous jewels of the various Maharajas. The Presidential Suite includes an entire carriage, while all the other suites feature large windows. There are seven journeys throughout India to choose from, including one of their newest, The Southern Jewels.

Minimum price: $1,100.

The Belmond Andean Explorer

Named as South America’s best sleeper train and one of the most adventurous rail lines in the world, Peru’s Belmond Andean Explorer will take you on a one-or-two-night journey to experience the highlights from Cusco to Arequipa. Each of the 24 rooms on the train has its own bathroom, shower, and oxygen tanks & masks should the altitude start to get to you. There’s even an onboard SPA!

Minimum price : $680.

Zhalong is a nature reserve in Heilongjiang in northeast China. It is one of     1     world’s most important wetlands. The area provides food and shelter for wildlife. Many birds live     2     （comfortable）in Zhalong Nature Reserve all year round,     3     some only stay there for a short time. There are many fish in the wetlands, and the birds can easily catch them     4     food.

Zhalong Nature Reserve is an important     5     （live）area for the rare red-crowned cranes. There are not many red-crowned cranes in the world. Some of them live in Zhalong. Some people want to change the wetlands to make     6     （much）space for farms and buildings. This     7     （mean）there will be less and less space for wildlife.

This year,     8     （member）of our Bird Watching Club are going to study the different kinds of birds in Zhalong and do a bird count. We are now inviting secondary school students     9     （help）. We need more people to help us count and do something to help the birds. Many people do not understand the     10     （important）of the wetlands. We hope this information will help them understand and make them actively take action to protect wildlife.

9 . Once upon a time, my grandson and I built a world out of wooden blocks and plastic pieces.

We spread out across the floor with domino roads _______ cities and nations. Each place was populated by little people with similar _______. Black, brown, and _______plastic faces represented the world’s many _______. We made sure everyone had everything they _______ —from playgrounds, to ice-cream stores, to Chuck E. Cheese in each place. Those plastic smiles were _______ in this make-believe land. I stood and surveyed our small _______ and decided something else was needed. I brought over some tall books to give _______ between the countries. My young grandson didn’t _______ that idea. He said it would be easier for everyone to __________ if we didn’t have anything in the __________.

That’s true! It is too bad that we lose a child’s __________ perspective（视角）among the world’s too many troubles that make those boundaries all too __________.

This isn’t the first time a child has __________ me a lesson. Children aren’t yet __________ with all the troubles of a __________ world. To put it simply, children can __________ life more as it should be. Surveying our perfect world of ice-cream stores and playgrounds, I sat down and realized I had more to learn. For my grandson, life and all of its realities would __________ soon enough. But for now, I realized that there were some things I could __________ from him.

And Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have __________ these things from the wise and learned, but shown them to little children.”

10 . Christmas doesn’t have to be a burden on the planet. With a little effort and imagination, we can reduce the environmental influence of the holiday season. Here are some ideas to help celebrate the season while caring for the earth.

1. Buy less. Some holiday gifts fill a practical need and need to be bought new. But many gifts are really gestures of thoughtfulness.     1    .

2. Not all gifts have to be store-bought. You can give more while spending less by giving gifts that are personal and unique.     2    , most adults appreciate anything that shows thoughtfulness.

3.     3    . Many gifts in today’s marketplace come from halfway around the world, and the influence of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions（排放）and global warming. Local craft fairs and artisan shops are good places for gifts that come without the added costs of transportation. And gifts made locally often have a story which goes with the gift, since the artisan and the origin of the gift are known.

4. Choose gifts made from recycled things.     4    . Supporting these businesses helps reduce the waste stream while promoting the concept of making best use of available materials.

5. Give “Battery-Free” gifts. According to the ЕPA, about 40% of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Thrown batteries are harmful to environment. Even rechargeable batteries find their way into the waste stream eventually.

6. Avoid children’s toys that promote violence. There is too much violence in the world, and the new wave of video games for children is disturbing.     5    . There are many toys and games hat are fun, and give children’s creativity and sense of active play.