1 . You should see the photo. I’m sitting in red dirt, wearing an ugly purple T-shirt. My face is pink and my hair is wet with sweat. Flies buzz around my head. I’m on a school trip with 20 parents and 20 kids.
It was an odd choice for a holiday. I like sitting by the pool with a cola, not flies and frogs. I like being alone and quiet, not a busload of kids. I like freshly washed sheets, not dirty-looking blankets.
But here’s the thing about that photo: I am smiling！
The trip sounded good when I signed up. Guides would take us into the heart of the place, and I would see a new part of Australia, learn about local culture and bond with my youngest daughter. I would also bond with 40 strangers. I just hoped there would be good coffee.
In Darwin, we got onto a bus. It quickly became tiresome. The kids were loud and I hate making small talk. But later, when I looked out at the vast, empty land, I was surprised at and moved by its beauty. Our guide told us about the land and his culture. I felt far from home. At a national park, we enjoyed a natural swimming hole. Kids and parents had a great time. Then we got to the outback. The cabin I shared with my daughter was a brick cell, full of geckos(壁虎) and crickets(蟋蟀), but too dark to see them.
It didn’t matter. The next nine days were packed: waterfalls, lakes, community visits and a trip around Katharine Gorge. We even saw giant crocodiles(鳄鱼) and baby wallabies(沙袋鼠).
On our last night, a water pipe broke. We awoke to a mess. Usually, I would have complained and asked for a refund(退款), but it just seemed normal to be dirty. Indeed, it was impossible to stay clean. We were hiking in red dirt with temperatures of 35 degrees. Still, I felt a kind of energy I hadn’t experienced in years.
Yes, the coffee was bad, but I was too focused on keeping crickets off my face.
I love that photo of me in the dirt. I look messy, but also happy. Sometimes, it’s another way of traveling. There is beautiful scenery, there is dirt. There was always someone to talk to, someone to laugh with.
1. What do we know about the author’s trip with her daughter?| A．Their journey was relaxing without too much sightseeing. |
| B．Their living conditions were fairly poor during the whole trip. |
| C．The scenery on the trip disappointed them to some degree. |
| D．The parents seemed to enjoy themselves more than their children. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Delighted. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Exhausted. |
| A．To persuade readers to try adventurous trips. |
| B．To show the benefits of traveling with children. |
| C．To share with readers her unusual travel experience. |
| D．To explain the advantages of hiking far from home. |
