Unit 6 At one with nature
Passage 1
Longji Rice Terraces
Imagine mountains _______(wrap) in silver water, _______(shine) in the spring sun. Summer sees the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are flash gold, and in winter they are covered in sheets of white frost. These are the colours of the Longji Rice Terraces.
These terraces _______(build) by the local Zhuang and Yao people, to _______ Guangxi is home. _______(Start) in the Yuan Dynasty, work on the terraces took hundreds of years, until its _______(complete) in the early Qing Dynasty. Reaching as far as the eye can see, these terraces cover tall mountains, often from the bottom _______ the very top.
So why did these people go to so much trouble to turn entire mountains _______ terraces Firstly, there are few large, flat areas of land in the region. _______(build) the terraces therefore meant that they could increase the areas _______ which they could grow rice. Secondly, _______ the region has plenty of rain, the mountains are steep and the earth is shallow. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from _______(wash) away.
But perhaps what is most significant is the way _______ which people have worked in harmony _______ nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are cleverly designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the rainy season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water and turns it into gas. This forms clouds _______ which rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again. These terraces also provide a perfect environment _______ birds and fish, some of _______ feed on insects that can harm the rice crops.
Although modern technology could help produce more crops, the rice growers are people _______ whom traditions hold much value. This knowledge is passed _______ through families, _______ means that new generations continue to use ancient methods of agriculture to maintain the terraces. Today, the Longji rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder _______(create) by people and nature working together.
Passage 2
A Love of Gardening
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” These words come from the book The Secret Garden, first _______(publish) in 1911. At that time, only the very rich in Britain had gardens. Very soon after this, homes started _______(build) with gardens. Since then, the British love of gardening began! Today, millions of Brits like to say that they have “green fingers", with around half the population _______(spend) most of their free time gardening.
For many people in the UK, their garden is their own private world. Each spring, children plant sunflowers and wait to see which one is the tallest. Expert gardeners know just the right corner for roses, and others spend hours _______(try) to grow perfect vegetables to enter into _______(compete). And while many Brits like nothing better than spending their Sunday _______(cut) the grass, some are happy just to sit and enjoy the beauty of their small world.
But in cities, limited space has led to people looking _______ new solutions. Those without outside space can rent small pieces of land _______which to grow things. Today, there are over 4, 000 people in London _______(wait) for such pieces of land. One recent idea has been to turn rooftops and walls _______ private gardens. These gardens have helped make the cities greener and improve air quality.
As well as being good for the environment, gardening is also good for the soul. What other free-time activity allows you _______(be) at one with nature and create more beautiful living things And _______ you’re in any doubt about this, take a moment to reflect on this line from The Secret Garden: "Where you tend a rose... A thistle cannot grow.”
原文:
Unit 6 At one with nature
Passage 1
Longji Rice Terraces
Imagine mountains wrapped in silver water, shining in the spring sun. Summer sees the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are flash gold, and in winter they are covered in sheets of white frost. These are the colours of the Longji Rice Terraces.
These terraces were built by the local Zhuang and Yao people, to whom Guangxi is home. Starting in the Yuan Dynasty, work on the terraces took hundreds of years, until its completion in the early Qing Dynasty. Reaching as far as the eye can see, these terraces cover tall mountains, often from the bottom to the very top.
So why did these people go to so much trouble to turn entire mountains into terraces Firstly, there are few large, flat areas of land in the region. Building the terraces therefore meant that they could increase the areas in which they could grow rice. Secondly, although the region has plenty of rain, the mountains are steep and the earth is shallow. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from being washed away.
But perhaps what is most significant is the way in which people have worked in harmony with nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are cleverly designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the rainy season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water and turins it into gas. This forms clouds from which rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again. These terraces also provide a perfect environment for birds and fish, some of which feed on insects that can harm the rice crops.
Although modern technology could help produce more crops, the rice growers are people for whom traditions hold much value. This knowledge is passed down through families, which means that new generations continue to use ancient methods of agriculture to maintain the terraces. Today, the Longji rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.
Passage 2
A Love of Gardening
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” These words come from the book The Secret Garden, first published in 1911. At that time, only the very rich in Britain had gardens. Very soon after this, homes started to be built with gardens. Since then, the British love of gardening began! Today, millions of Brits like to say that they have “green fingers", with around half the population spending most of their free time gardening.
For many people in the UK, their garden is their own private world. Each spring, children plant sunflowers and wait to see which one is the tallest. Expert gardeners know just the right corner for roses, and others spend hours trying to grow perfect vegetables to enter into competitions. And while many Brits like nothing better than spending their Sunday cutting the grass, some are happy just to sit and enjoy the beauty of their small world.
But in cities, limited space has led to people looking for new solutions. Those without outside space can rent small pieces of land on which to grow things. Today, there are over 4, 000 people in London waiting for such pieces of land. One recent idea has been to turn rooftops and walls into private gardens. These gardens have helped make the cities greener and improve air quality.
As well as being good for the environment, gardening is also good for the soul. What other free-time activity allows you to be at one with nature and create more beautiful living things And if you’re in any doubt about this, take a moment to reflect on this line from The Secret Garden: "Where you tend a rose... A thistle cannot grow.”