神奇之地：神农架

华中师范大学外国语学院英语系 孟琴供稿

五千年前，在现在的湖北省西部地区，华夏始祖炎帝制造了一架大木梯来采草药。他没有想到的是他的这份遗产使得这块地区成为了世界闻名的旅游胜地。

神农架（字面上解释就是神农的梯子，神农是人们对炎帝的一种尊称）是世界同纬度地区中生态系统保存最完好的地区。它是许多世界珍稀濒危动植物如珙桐、金丝猴、白蛇等的家园，以“天然的物种基因库”著称。在人们心中，它是神圣的绿色宝地。 1986年，神农架经国务院批准成为“国家级森林及野生动物自然保护区”。 1990年，被联合国教科文组织接纳为“人与生物圈”计划保护网成员。1992年，被联合国发展计划署评为“物种多样性自然保护示范区”。

★山峰、石林和岩洞

神农架地区海拔在3000米以上的山峰有6座。神农顶，海拔3105.4米，成为华中第一峰。在神农顶，古代洪水的痕迹通过峰顶、斜坡、粗糙的表面、暴露的巨石和许多鹅卵石还可以被看到。

神农架地区的许多山顶广泛分布着可溶解的碳酸盐岩。这些岩石很容易被水侵蚀而形成壮观的高海拔喀斯特地形。风景垭是这类地形的代表，这里有许多笔直优美的石柱。

由于侵蚀而形成的奇特的岩洞同样使游客惊讶不已。万燕栖息的燕子洞是这一地区最著名的岩洞之一。该洞海拔2340米，总长超过3000米，洞口高14米宽16米。此洞是地质学、考古学以及动物学科研的宝地。

★美丽的水景

水也是神农架受到的一大自然恩惠。神农架整个区域被河、湖、潭横穿和点缀，像壮丽的岩石上的腰带、领带和帽子。

大九湖是神农架地区最大的湖，周围群山环绕。大九湖面积有18平方千米，湖底海拔达到1750米。该湖由距今大约4000万年前的冰川运动而形成。

神农架地区深深的峡谷有许多地下水的出口，这些地下水构成了各式各样的泉水。潮水泉一天喷出三次，每次喷出持续45分钟并伴有雷鸣般的声响，水流量达到每秒一吨。芳香泉水流量每小时两吨，形成10米高6米宽的瀑布，瀑布流入下面的深潭，被称作祥龙潭。

★野人

野人也许是神农架地区最神秘的，它同尼斯湖水怪以及UFO一样出名。中国古书中有许多关于野人的记录。自从20世纪70年代以来，许多人宣称他们在神农架发现了野人。根据他们的描述，野人像猿猴一样，差不多有两米高，身上覆盖有红色或棕色的毛发，跑起来速度惊人。一些科学家声称他们发现了野人存在的证据，如脚印和毛发。然而，野人还有待被发现。许多人认为野人同大熊猫和金丝猴一样是一种古老的物种。

★滑雪胜地

神农架地区还是一个滑雪的好地方。神农架滑雪胜地，于2004年开放，是中国南方最大的冬季运动场所。滑雪场海拔2200米，占地面积10万平方米，滑坡有4千米长。与北方的滑雪场相比，神农架滑雪场享有三个优势：气候宜人、无风、地势条件优越。

★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