If your idea of a good time is to sleep in a hut, carry your own rubbish, and eat insects and wild animals, then ecotourism may be just for you. But is it also for people who want to fly over a rainforest sky before checking into a comfortable and expensive hotel in the middle of a national park? Whatever ecotourism is, it is hot--perhaps too hot for its own good.
The World Tourism Organization claims that the industry looked after 592 million travelers last year who spent $423 billion, and of all the types of tourism, ecotourism seems to be the fastest growing. By the broadest measure -- a trip with some sort of nature or wilderness element -- ecotourism already accounts for perhaps a third of these travelers. On a stricter definition favored by the Ecotourism Society, it is “responsible travel that preserves natural environments and keeps up the well-being of local people,” which accounts for no more than 5% of tourism.
Ideally, ecotourism helps both people and nature. Before the disastrous civil war, Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Project was one such model. Visits to the gorillas were limited, local guides ensured good behavior or on the part of the humans, and the high admission charge - $170 a day -- paid for salaries and presentation of the gorillas’ living areas. As this made the gorillas worth more alive than dead, poaching (偷猎) decreased. As another example, preservation Cooperation, Africa’s largest ecotour operator, uses only local labor, buys products 5om local farmers, and supports building projects: such as clinics and schools. This contribution to social advance is also good business sense. Projects from which local people benefit directly are less likely to be affected by poaching and theft.
Ecotourism’s biggest problem is labeling. Going on an eco-tour is no guarantee of good ecology. So far, only Australia has an official system to grade tour operators and tourist attractions on the basis of their “greenness”. Another issue is how eco-tourists damage the environment. Dolphin-feeding, for instance, is innocent and enjoyable, but after too many free meals, the dolphins forget how to catch their own dinners.
Keeping prices high is one way to limit enthusiasm. But measuring the effect of ecotourism on human environments is trickier. It is common, for villagers to see ecotourism as a source of new income. Hence, the very tourists who venture in search of traditional cultures end up breaking them up. As ecotourism becomes more popular, it will finally threaten the very things that are good for business.
1.According to the passage, ecotourism may _________.
A. harm its own purpose by becoming too popular
B. save the environment by becoming more popular
C. harm its own purpose by becoming less popular
D. save the environment by becoming less popular
2.Within the tourism industry as a whole, ecotourism _____________.
A. has no single, clear definition that would satisfy everybody
B. has expanded less rapidly than other types of tourism
C. claims that no comfortable hotels should be used by tourists
D. most often has a negative effect on local culture
3.Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Project is a good example because ___________.
A. tourists were free to visit the gorillas whenever they wanted to
B. local people’s attitudes toward animals were not affected
C. the gorillas were protected from both tourists and local people
D. the gorillas’ living area was modernized because of the high admission
4. _________ most directly benefits the local community.
A. Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Project B. Preservation Corporation
C. Australia’s grading system D. Dolphin-feeding
It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas; and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating — a dozen long-stemmed red roses.
As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband — a prisoner in a nearby prison — was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.
A short time later, her husband arrived — with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.
At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas-a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.
I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy — the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.
1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
A. The writer was a newcomer to her office.
B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.
C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.
D. She was at work with a light heart.
2.The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of .
A. having her baby examined
B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape
C. having her husband examined
D. getting a chance for her family to get together
3.The underlined part in paragraph 3 most probably means “ ”
A.to be sent to hospital B.to be separated from his family
C.to be comfortable D.to become a prisoner
4.What does the writer learn from the story?
A.The wife experienced the most joy in receiving
B.An act of kindness can mean a lot
C.The prisoner was treated with mercy
D.Whoever breaks the law should be punished
One night recently, I was driving down a two-lane highway at about 60 miles an hour. A car approached from the 36 direction at about the same speed. As we 37 each other, I caught the other driver’s eye for only a second. I wondered whether he might be 38 , as I was, how dependent we were on each other at that moment. I was relying on him not to fall 39 , not to be put off by a phone conversation, not to cross over into my lane and bring my life to a sudden 40 . Though we had 41 spoken a word to each other, he relied on me in just the same way.
Multiplied a million times over, I believe that is the way the world 42 . At some 43 , we all depend upon one another. Sometimes that dependence requires us 44 not to do something like crossing over the double yellow line. And sometimes it requires us to act 45 , with friends or even with 46 .
As technology 47 our world, the need increases for cooperative action among nations. In 2003, doctors in five nations were quickly organized to identify the SARS virus, which 48 thousands of lives. The threat of international terrorism has shown itself to be a 49 problem, one requiring coordinated action by police and intelligence forces across the world’ We must recognize that our fates are not ours 50 to control.
In my own life, I’ve put great stock in 51 responsibility. 52 , as the years have passed, I’ve also come to believe that there are moments when one must rely upon the good faith and judgment of 53 . So, while each of us faces the case of driving alone down a 54 road, what we must learn is that the approaching light may not be a threat, but a shared moment of 55 .
1.A. wrong B. correct C. same D. opposite
2.A. passed B. greeted C. recognized D. met
3.A. believing B. thinking C. admitting D. suggesting
4.A. down B. off C. asleep D. sick
5.A. end B. shock C. surprise D. disaster
6.A. apparently B. hardly C. never D. ever
7.A. looks B. exists C. stays D. works
8.A. level B. place C. moment D. length
9.A. temporarily B. simply C. constantly D. consciously
10.A. independently B. respectively C. individually D. cooperatively
11.A. strangers B. colleagues C. parents D. partners
12.A. develops B. enlarges C. shrinks D. improves
13.A. killed B. threatened C. destroyed D. saved
14.A. similar B. different C. serious D. widespread
15.A. alike B. alone C. alive D. along
16.A. personal B. public C. common D. general
17.A. Therefore B. Though C. But D. Thus
18.A. friends B. authorities C. others D. oneself
19.A. dark B. main C. busy D. narrow
20.A. enjoyment B. trust C. safety D. encouragement
It sounds like something is wrong with the car’s engine. _____ , we’d better take it to the garage immediately.
A. Otherwise B. If not C. But for that D. If so
Would you like to_______ with us to the film tonight?
A．come along B.come off C.come across D.come through
On Monday mornings it usually ______ me an hours to drive to work although the actual distance is only 20 miles.
A. takes B. is taking C. took D. will take
