華中師范大學(xué)外國語學(xué)院英語系 孟琴供稿

五千年前，在現(xiàn)在的湖北省西部地區(qū)，華夏始祖炎帝制造了一架大木梯來采草藥。他沒有想到的是他的這份遺產(chǎn)使得這塊地區(qū)成為了世界聞名的旅游勝地。

神農(nóng)架（字面上解釋就是神農(nóng)的梯子，神農(nóng)是人們對炎帝的一種尊稱）是世界同緯度地區(qū)中生態(tài)系統(tǒng)保存最完好的地區(qū)。它是許多世界珍稀瀕危動植物如珙桐、金絲猴、白蛇等的家園，以“天然的物種基因庫”著稱。在人們心中，它是神圣的綠色寶地。 1986年，神農(nóng)架經(jīng)國務(wù)院批準成為“國家級森林及野生動物自然保護區(qū)”。 1990年，被聯(lián)合國教科文組織接納為“人與生物圈”計劃保護網(wǎng)成員。1992年，被聯(lián)合國發(fā)展計劃署評為“物種多樣性自然保護示范區(qū)”。

★山峰、石林和巖洞

神農(nóng)架地區(qū)海拔在3000米以上的山峰有6座。神農(nóng)頂，海拔3105.4米，成為華中第一峰。在神農(nóng)頂，古代洪水的痕跡通過峰頂、斜坡、粗糙的表面、暴露的巨石和許多鵝卵石還可以被看到。

神農(nóng)架地區(qū)的許多山頂廣泛分布著可溶解的碳酸鹽巖。這些巖石很容易被水侵蝕而形成壯觀的高海拔喀斯特地形。風(fēng)景埡是這類地形的代表，這里有許多筆直優(yōu)美的石柱。

由于侵蝕而形成的奇特的巖洞同樣使游客驚訝不已。萬燕棲息的燕子洞是這一地區(qū)最著名的巖洞之一。該洞海拔2340米，總長超過3000米，洞口高14米寬16米。此洞是地質(zhì)學(xué)、考古學(xué)以及動物學(xué)科研的寶地。

★美麗的水景

水也是神農(nóng)架受到的一大自然恩惠。神農(nóng)架整個區(qū)域被河、湖、潭橫穿和點綴，像壯麗的巖石上的腰帶、領(lǐng)帶和帽子。

大九湖是神農(nóng)架地區(qū)最大的湖，周圍群山環(huán)繞。大九湖面積有18平方千米，湖底海拔達到1750米。該湖由距今大約4000萬年前的冰川運動而形成。

神農(nóng)架地區(qū)深深的峽谷有許多地下水的出口，這些地下水構(gòu)成了各式各樣的泉水。潮水泉一天噴出三次，每次噴出持續(xù)45分鐘并伴有雷鳴般的聲響，水流量達到每秒一噸。芳香泉水流量每小時兩噸，形成10米高6米寬的瀑布，瀑布流入下面的深潭，被稱作祥龍?zhí)丁?/p>

★野人

野人也許是神農(nóng)架地區(qū)最神秘的，它同尼斯湖水怪以及UFO一樣出名。中國古書中有許多關(guān)于野人的記錄。自從20世紀70年代以來，許多人宣稱他們在神農(nóng)架發(fā)現(xiàn)了野人。根據(jù)他們的描述，野人像猿猴一樣，差不多有兩米高，身上覆蓋有紅色或棕色的毛發(fā)，跑起來速度驚人。一些科學(xué)家聲稱他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了野人存在的證據(jù)，如腳印和毛發(fā)。然而，野人還有待被發(fā)現(xiàn)。許多人認為野人同大熊貓和金絲猴一樣是一種古老的物種。

★滑雪勝地

神農(nóng)架地區(qū)還是一個滑雪的好地方。神農(nóng)架滑雪勝地，于2004年開放，是中國南方最大的冬季運動場所?；﹫龊０?200米，占地面積10萬平方米，滑坡有4千米長。與北方的滑雪場相比，神農(nóng)架滑雪場享有三個優(yōu)勢：氣候宜人、無風(fēng)、地勢條件優(yōu)越。

★Mountains,stone forests and caves

The Shennongjia area has six mountains surpassing 3,000 metres above sea level.Shennong Top,known as the first peak in central China,is 3105.4 meters above sea level,where traces of ancient floods can still be seen through the mountain top,the slope,the uneven surface,the exposed huge rocks,and many pebbles.

Soluble carbonate rocks are widely distributed on the top of many mountains in the area.These rocks are easily eroded by water and have formed splendid highaltitude Karst Landforms.The Fengjingya(the Scenery Pass)is representative of the landforms,with a group of straight and graceful stone pillars.

Peculiar caves,formed by erosion,also amaze visitors.The Swallow Cave,inhabited by thousands of rare swallows,is one of the famous caves in the area.The cave is 2,340 metres above sea level and more than three kilometres long.The cave’s mouth is 14 metres tall and 16 metres wide.The cave is a treasure site for scientific research in geology,archaeology and zoology.

★Beautiful water scenery

Water is also a great natural gift Shennongjia has received.The whole region is crosscut and dotted by rivers,lakes,and pools,which looks like belt,neckties and hats of the splendid rocks.

Dajiu Lake,the largest lake in Shennongjia,is surrounded by mountains and has an area of 18 square kilometres,with its bottom standing at 1,750 metres above sea level.The lake was formed about 40 million years ago,as a result of glacier movement.

The deep canyons in the Shennongjia area have many outlets of underground water,which form various kinds of springs.The Tide Spring erupts three times a day.Each eruption lasts 45 minutes and is accompanied by thundering sounds,with flow capacity reaching one ton per second.The Fragrant Spring has a flow capacity of two tons per hour,forming a waterfall that is 10 metres wide and six metres high.The waterfall forms a deep pool below,which is called Xianglong Pool.

★The Wild Man

The Wild Man is perhaps the most mysterious figure in Shennongjia,as famous as Nessie and UFOs.Its records appear many times in ancient Chinese books.Since the 1970s,many people in Shennongjia have declared that they have spotted the Wild Man.According to their descriptions,the Wild Man is like an ape about two metres tall,covered by red or brown hair and it can run at an amazing speed.Some scientists claim they have found evidence of the creature,such as footprints and hairs.However,a Wild Man has yet to be found.Many people believe that the Wild Man is an ancient species like the giant panda and the golden-haired monkey.

★Ski Resort

Shennongjia is also a good place for skiing.Shennongjia Ski Resort,opened in 2004,is the largest winter sports complex in South China.Located with an elevation of 2,200 metres,the complex covers an area of 100,000 square meters and has four kilometers of ski slopes.Shennongjia complex enjoys three advantages comparing to complexes in the North:nice climate,no wind and excellent topography.

Reading Comprehension.

（）1.Shennongjia originally refers to _______.

A.a place in western parts of Hubei ProvinceB.an area where Yan Di lived

C.a shelf created by Shennong D.a ladder made by Yan Di

（）2.Where can tourists see the traces of ancient floods?

A.In Dajiu Lake. B.In Fengjingya.

C.At Shennong Top. D.In the Swallow Cave.

（ ）3.In the last paragraph,the word“complex”means_______.

A.facility B.intricate

C.complicated D.compound

（）4.Which of the following is True according to the passage?

A.The Wild Man is like an ape about two metres tall and it can run very fast.

B.The Tide Spring has a flow capacity of one ton per second.

C.Shennongjia has kept the richest ecological system in the world.

D.UNESCO selected Shennongjia as a“Demonstration of Natural Reserves of Bio-diversity.”

（）5.We can infer from the passage that_______.

A.Shennongjia is a natural gene bank of biological species

B.tourist can see the splendid Karst Landforms in Fengjingya

C.no one has spotted the real Wild Man until now

D.Shennongjia winter sports complex is the best in China