新概念英语第一册30课课文

新概念英语第一册30课课文

Lesson 30 The best and the worst

In every country there are many places which are famous for their beauty or interest. Some places are famous for their spectacular scenery, others for their architectural treasures, others for their great paintings and sculptures, and yet others for a combination of these things. The United States is rich in all these respects, but there is one place that combines natural and man-made beauty in a truly unique manner. This is the Grand Canyon in the south-western part of the State of Arizona.

In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Grand Canyon. Deeply impressed by its extraordinary beauty, he said:' Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it'. Roosevelt's wish has been respected ever since.

The Grand Canyon was formed some five million years ago when the Colorado River began to cut a channel through layers of rock. Over the ages, the river has worn away the rock, thereby creating a vast chasm(深坑). What strikes the visitor most of all is the great variety of colours that the walls of the canyon present. Some are red or yellow, others are a dozen shades of purple and blue. The canyon is 217 miles long, about three and a half miles wide, and in some places it is a mile deep.

The Grand Canyon is divided into two sections: the inner Canyon and the outer Canyon. Most visitors are content to see the latter, but those who are more adventurous can explore the inner canyon.

Here, they will find a very different world, for the temperature inside the canyon is very high in summer. The canyon is so deep that the rays of the sun can only reach the bottom for a few hours each day. This brief period is enough, however, to create a startling variety of colours.

"'I will show you the best and the worst place,' a guide told a party of tourists. 'Stand here and look to the right. You will see the best place. Now turn to the left and you will see the worst place.' The tourists did as they were told and were amazed to see that the one place was hardly better than the other. For a time, they looked at each other in silence. Then one man said to the guide: 'I don't get it. Where are the best and the worst places?' The guide pointed to a placard on the wall which read: 'The best place to stand is where you are told. The worst place is just around the corner'.

Note: The Grand Canyon is a famous national park in the USA, known for its awe-inspiring beauty and breathtaking views. The canyon is visited by millions of tourists every year and offers various activities such as hiking, camping, and river rafting. It is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.