My Northern Lights tourism

江西 侯昌玮

主题语境：旅行 篇幅：351词 建议用时：7分钟

1It's getting close to midnight, and close to my destination—mile marker 133 on Alaska's Glenn Highway, where I'm on the road to fulfilling a lifelong dream.I'm going to see the Northern Lights.

2I am Scott's only client tonight who is a professional photographer and videographer interested to come out here to witness one of nature's most spectacular shows and to share it with others. “I can't tell you how much joy I get from seeing the smile on people's faces. That's worth it right there.That's the reason I do tours,” he says.

3I emerge from the van into minus 6 degrees. A bazillion stars sparkle (闪烁), and the Milky Way pours overhead. What looks like a gray stream of cloud arcs low over the horizon. “That's it!” says Scott. Really? That's it? I spent 13 hours in planes and airports,and then drove 2.5 hours to see a gray streak? “Patience,” he says. “It will get better. Wait till 2 am. That's usually the best time.”

4Aurora tourism is combined with winter activities like ice fishing, snow machine rides, and hot springs.As aurora guides and scientists will tell you, there's no guaranteeof a sighting.But Fairbanks is a statistically good bet because of its northern location and freedom from coastal clouds, which can be a challenge for Anchorage. Travelers are recommended to put aside at least three nights to improve their chances of viewing, with the idea that they'll be up much of the night each time.

5Each time Scott wakes me and I step outside, it appears more glorious. At first, a honeydew fuzz skitters along the horizon. Another time, a broad green line stretches across the sky, anchored by a short tail. “Do you see the red?” Scott asks. He has me look through his camera. It can see more color than the naked eyes (肉眼). Finally, as if playing a visual symphonic tune, a giant line of phosphorous (发磷光的) green seems to swoop down to the treetops and dollop them with a curlicue swirl. I'm smiling inside and out. We can go now.

Reading

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1. What makes Scott like to do aurora tourism?

A. The good income.

B. The happiness of tourists.

C. The joy of enjoying the Northern Lights.

D. The chance to meet foreign visitors.

2. What can we infer about the author from paragraph 3?

A. He/She feels very angry.

B. He/She is very doubtful.

C. He/She is a little disappointed.

D. He/She loses his/her patience.

3. Why is Fairbanks an ideal place to enjoy the Northern Lights?

A. It is located in the Arctic Circle.

B. It offers visitors three nights for free.

C. It has winter activities for travelers.

D. It is really free from coastal clouds.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A. The beauty of the Northern Lights.

B. The cause of the Northern Lights.

C. The shapes of the Northern Lights.

D. The disappearance of the Northern Lights.

Language

Study

Ⅰ. Difficult sentence in the text

As aurora guides and scientists will tell you, there's no guarantee of a sighting. 正如极光向导和科学家会告诉你的那样，不能保证看到极光。

【点石成金】本句中，As引导定语从句，意为“正如”，并且在从句中作宾语。

Ⅱ. Fill in the blanks.

The trip to see the Northern Lights came highly 1. ________(recommend) by travelers and nature lovers. I packed my warmest clothes, a mix of excitement and anticipation 2. ________ me. As night descended upon the frozen landscape, I set my sights skywards,3. ________(hope) to witness the spectacular light show I 4. ________(dream) of.

Along with a guide 5. ________ knew the land like the back of his hand, we positioned ourselves in a clearing, our eyes scanning the vast expanse above. We were told to look 6. ________ our cameras and capture the moment the heavens decided to display their beauty. The waiting game tested our patience, but we knew the reward would be unparalleled.

And then, as if nature sensed our 7. ________(eager), the auroras began their dance.Beams of green and purple light swooped down, pouring out across the sky like ribbons of color, and 8. ________(paint) the darkness with colorful lights. It was an inspiring sight,wherein the sky things 9. ________(combine) with the earthly in a display of the art of the universe. 10. ________(stand) beneath the swirling lights, I felt an infinite sense of wonder, and that moment forever etched in my memory.