geography原文和答案

Geography
Part I Pre-listening
C. Listening Exercise
Listen to a conversation about geography and choose the best answers to the questions you hear.
1. Which country haven’t the man been to?
A. Canada.
B. China.
C. Korea.
D. New Zealand.
2. What do you know about Norway?
A. It is the only country the woman has been to.
B. It has many beautiful forests, valleys and canyons.
C. The south of the country can be warm in summer.
D. It is cold all year long.
3. What kind of map are they looking at?
A. A map of Norway.
B. A map showing countries.
C. A map showing geographical features.
D. A map showing plateaus and oceans.
4. What surprises the woman?
A. The highest peak in the world.
B. The coverage of oceans.
C. The volcanic activity.
D. The landscapes.
5. What do you know about the woman?
A. She has been to many countries.
B. She knows more about geography than the man does.
C. She wants to know more about geography.
D. She will attend a geography class tomorrow.
Script:
W: Which countries have you been to?
M: I’ve been to Canada, most of the countries in Europe, and several countries in Asia---China, Korea, and Thailand.
W: I thought you had been to Australia too.
M: No, but I’m planning on visiting Australia and New Zealand soon. I’ve heard that they are beautiful countries. Which is the most beautiful country you’ve been to? W: I think I’d say Norway. It has many picturesque forests, waterfalls, and mountains. M: Isn’t it really cold there?
W: Well, the north of Norway is almost always cold, but further south it can be fairly
warm in summer. Let’s see it on that map…Hey, there are no countries marked on the map.
M: No, there aren`t. This map just shows the geographical features, but it is fascinating to read. Look at the Himalayan plateau with the highest peaks in the world.
W: The thing that I find most surprising is that most of the world is covered with water. Compared to the oceans, most lands are tiny.
M: I find it incredible how millions of years of volcanic activities have created mountains thousands of meters tall.
W: Rivers have created deep valleys and canyons.
M: The oceans and landscapes all influence our climate.
W: It`s all so interesting. I`ll have to find more information about it on the Internet. Or perhaps I should try and attend your geography class.
Part II While Listening
Text A What is Geography?
Exercise 1 Global Understanding
Listen to the text for the first time, focus on the global idea of the passage and then write down the two main branches of geography.
1. Cultural geography focusing on people and cultures.
2. Physical geography focusing on planet earth.
Exercise 2 Note-taking Strategy
Listen to the part about the themes of geography and take outline notes.
Five themes of geography
A. Location
B. Place
C.Human-Environment Interaction
1. Humans depend on the environment
2.Humans modify the environment
3.Humans adapt to the environment
D. Movement
E. Regions
1. Formal regions
2. Functional regions
3. Vernacular regions
Exercise 3 In-depth Listening
Listen to the first part again and complete the answers to the following questions.
1. What is the origin of the word “geography”?
The ancient Greeks created the word "geography" from the roots "ge" for “earth”and "grapho" for "to write".
2. What do physical geographers do?
The work of physical geographers includes research about climates, the formation of landforms, and plant and animal distribution.
3. What is GIS?
Computerized mapping and data analysis is known as Geographic Information Systems or GIS.
Script:
The ancient Greeks created the word "geography" from the roots "ge" for “earth”and "grapho" for "to write." These people experienced many adventures and needed a way to explain and communicate the differences between various lands.
Today, researchers in the field of geography still focus on people and cultures (under cultural geography), and the planet earth (under physical geography). The features of the earth are the domain of physical geographers and their work includes research about climates, the formation of landforms, and plant and animal distribution. Working in closely related areas, the research of physical geographers and geologists often overlaps. Religion, languages, and cities are a few of the specialties of cultural geographers. Their research into the intricacies of human existence is fundamental to our understanding of cultures. Cultural geographers want to know why various groups practice certain rituals, speak in different dialects, or organize their cities in a particular way. Geographers plan new communities, decide where new highways should be placed, and establish evacuation plans.
Computerized mapping and data analysis is known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a new frontier in geography. There's always something new to research in geography: new nation-states are created, natural disasters strike populated areas, the world's climate changes, and the Internet brings millions of people closer together. Knowing where countries and oceans are on a map is important but geography is much more than the answers to trivia questions.
In 1984, the National Council for Geographic Education along with the Association of American Geographers developed the five themes of geography as a way to teach the ideas behind geography to grade school students. The subject was broken down into location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region.
Location discusses the position of objects, and encompasses both relative and absolute location. Relative location describes one obje ct’s location in relation to another object – such as California is West of Nevada. Absolute location gives precise
coordinates, determined by lines of latitude and longitude, such as the Statue of Liberty is at 69° W and 47° N.
Place is used to describe the physical and human characteristics of a location. The physical characteristics of a location include any natural formations, such as mountains and lakes, as well as the flora and fauna present. Human characteristics pertain to man-made structures as well as population and cultural descriptions of the area.
Human-Environment Interaction studies the ways humans impact the environment around them. From altering the landscape with things such as bridges or shopping centers to the effects of pollution, there are three concepts that are shaping this relationship:
•Humans depend on the environment
•Humans modify the environment
•Humans adapt to the environment
Movement pertains to the travel of people, goods, and ideas throughout a particular location or throughout the world. It can be the study of migration as well as the spread of fads.
Region is a way of dividing the world into distinct areas through unifying characteristics. These areas can be determined by natural characteristics or political lines and fall into one of the following categories; formal, functional, or vernacular.
•Formal regions are designated by official boundaries –like states and countries.
•Functional regions are determined by their connections – like the delivery area of a pizza place.
•Vernacular regions are perceived regions with no formal boundaries –like “the south”.
Text B Mount Kailash—Axis of the World
Exercise 1 Global Understanding
Listen to the text for the first time, focus on the global idea of the passage and then choose the right answers to the questions you hear.
1. Why is Mount Kailash regarded as the axis of the world?
A. Because it matches the legend of the axis of the world.
B. Because it has never been climbed.
C. Because it is the birthplace of four major rivers in the world.
D. Because gods are believed to live there.
2. Why is Mount Kailash of special importance to Tibetans?
A. Because it is the axis of the world.
B. Because it is located in the remotest area in Tibet.
C. Because it is the most mythical mountain in the world.
D. Because it is the most important pilgrimage site in Tibet.
Exercise 2 Listening for Details
Listen and decide whether the following statements are true (T), false (F) or not given (NG).
1. Mount Kailash is called “Garden of Eden” or “the axis of the world.” (F)
2. Mount Kailash is located in an outlying region in China. (T)
3. Mount Kailash is the most famous mountain in Tibet. (NG)
4. Four most important rivers in the world flow from Mount Kailash. (F)
5. No one ever mounted Mount Kailash because it is extremely difficult to climb. (F) Exercise 3 Compound Dictation
Listen and complete the summary below with the missing words you hear.
Mount Kailash is Tibet’s most important 1) pilgrimage site. Every year pilgrims of different faiths gather at the foot of Mount Kailash for the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar---the Saga Dawa Festival to celebrate 2) Buddha's enlightenment. The climax of the festival is the raising of the 3) newly dressed altar, a 25-metre flagpole. Hundreds of fresh 4) prayer flags are prepared and added to the pole. The pole must 5) end up straight and new prayers can be blown to the heavens. More prayers, written on 6) wind horses are also thrown into the air and fly towards the peak of Kailash.
Script:
Exercise 1
Several world religions believe in a mythical mountain that's equivalent to the Garden of Eden. Its peak has four faces, aligned to the points of the compass, and from its summit four rivers are said to flow to the four quarters of the world. Thanks to its life-giving waters, this mountain is known as the axis of the world.
In one of the remotest areas of Tibet there's a place where this legend takes physical form. That place is Mount Kailash. By an uncanny coincidence, Mount Kailash perfectly matches the legend of the mythical axis of the world. Its four faces are roughly aligned to the compass, and four major rivers flow from its foothills.
These are some of the most significant rivers in Asia, the Yarlung, which becomes India's Brahmaputra, the Indus and Sutlej which flow to Pakistan, and the Karnali, a major feeder for the Ganges.
Thanks to its connection with the mythical mountain, Kailash is so sacred that it's never been climbed.
It's Tibet's most important pilgrimage site.
For Tibetans, pilgrimage is a journey from ignorance to enlightenment. A
pilgrimage around the sacred mountain is believed to wipe out the sins of a lifetime, increasing the chance of a better re-birth. Most pilgrims time their visit for the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar.
For over 1000 years they have gathered at the foot of Kailash for the Saga Dawa Festival to celebrate Buddha's enlightenment.
The festival climaxes with the raising of the newly dressed altar, a 25-metre flagpole. The full entourage of Tibetan monks make the most of the occasion, with music, prayers and blessings. Hundreds of fresh prayer flags are prepared and added to the pole. The head lama's sacred scarf adds the final touch to the proceedings.
But the significance of Mount Kailash isn't confined to Buddhists alone. Other faiths venture to this remote place, many from far beyond the Himalayas. Threatening to upstage the Buddhists, the Hindus arrive, adding their own mix of colour and music.
When suitable respect has been paid, it's time for the newly dressed prayer pole to be raised. The pole must end up straight or it will be a bad omen for Tibet.
At last the pole stands true and the new prayers can be blown to the heavens.
Around this point, the power of the Tibetan landscape and the beliefs of many cultures converge.
More prayers, written on pieces of paper called wind horses, are thrown into the air and flutter upwards towards the peak of Kailash, where the gods of the different faiths are believed to reside.
Part IV Homework
Section A Listening Task
Direction: Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks with what you hear.
Largest Country in the World
There are as many as (1) 233 countries around the world! The criteria of being the 'Largest' is (2) a bit ambiguous. By largest one could mean, largest country in the world by area, that is landmass or by population. You will find answers to questions, according to all these criteria. Along the way, you'll also discover some other interesting facts about these countries. So, without further ado, let us get down to answering this question.
By Area - Russia
Yes, the largest country, by landmass is Russia which is the biggest part of what was once the U.S.S.R (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and exists as a (3) semi-presidential republic today. It covers more than a ninth of the Earth's total land mass. It covers a total area of (4) 6,592,800 square miles(17,075,400 square kilometers), which constitutes about 11.5% of the Earth's Total Land Mass! The total land area on Earth is 57,510,000 square miles or 148,940,000 square kilometers. Situated in Eurasia, Russia extends across the whole of (5) northern part of Asia and about 40% of European landmass. It spans about (6) 11 different time zones, with a variety of land forms and all kinds of (7) climate conditions.
Russia has the world's biggest reserves of (8) energy and minerals! It is still,
unarguably a superpower when it comes to energy resources. It also is fortunate enough to have the (9) greatest forest reserves in the world, along with roughly 25% of the world's (10) unfrozen freshwater reserves, in its lakes. About 140 million people inhabit this country and it is the (11) ninth most populous country in the world. Due to the abundant forest reserves in Russia, it is also known as the (12) 'lungs of Europe'.
Russia also has the largest lake in the world (13) by volume, which is Lake Baikal and it is also the deepest lake in the world. Mount Elbrus in Russia is the highest topographical point in the whole of Europe. It also contains about 10% of the world's total arable land. The country has 100,000 rivers, out of which the V olga is the longest river in the whole of Europe. Russia is home to about 266 species of mammals and about (14) 780 species of birds.
By Population - China
If one considers that what really forms a country is the people, then the largest country in the world by population is China, that is 'People's Republic of China', with a total population of 1,334,360,000 people and counting! About 19.62% of the world's population, that is about one fifth of total population, lives in China! With about 3.7 million square miles of land area, China is the second largest country by land area and the fourth largest by total area. Currently, it is the (15) third largest economy in the world! It has a 14,500 km long coastline.
With so much population, China holds the title of the (16) fastest aging country in the world too! The (17) 'Three Gorges Dam' in China is the biggest dam in the world. Largest area also means larger resources (18) at a country's disposal. More than being the largest, biggest or wealthiest, every country today covets the 'Super Power' status. Only one country has it today and that is USA, but other countries like China and India are catching up!。