On a typical warm weekend day this spring, about 60,000 people will make their way to one spot or another in the Great Smoky Mountains Park, which is found along the border between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, US. They will come to be amazed by the mountains on the skyline and the dense(茂密的), “smoky” forests, plants and animal life.They will be taken back in time, if only for a short while. As lovers of the Smoky Mountains like to say, they’re a “little bit of the world as it once was”.

Over the century, Americans have built a special relationship with these wonders of the great outdoors. The parks are not just pretty places to admire, but also places of spiritual togetherness. Whether it is a snowcapped peak in the Rocky Mountains or one of the Great Lakes in the Northeast, the parks give citizens the opportunity to think more deeply about their lives, the nation and each other.

They’re a connection to the US' beginning and to the spirit of the settlers who made new lives for themselves in a wilderness(荒野).For America's native peoples the parks are a link to their home-lands, which are thousands of years old.

The parks also inspire artists. Poems and pieces of music are written about them; visual artists have made work based on them. One such artist, US photographer Ansel Adams, took thousands of photographs in Yosemite National Park.

Above all, the parks inspire patriotism(爱国精神)in visitors.Edwin Bernbaum, US director of the Sacred Mountains Program at the Mountain Institute, associates park sites like the amazing Grand Canyon with the US’ national hymn(赞歌), America the Beautiful. The “spacious skies” and “purple mountain majesties(雄伟)”celebrated in the song remind Americans, according to Bembaum, “of the quest(追求)for freedom and independence at the heart of American culture and history”.

With the launch of the US - China year of tourism in March, more travelers from China now have the opportunity to visit these wonders of nature. Who knows? Perhaps one day you'll be among those going out into the Smoky Mountains or heading to Yellowstone for a glorious day enjoying nature.

46. The author believes one reason for the special relationship between Americans and the great outdoors is that .

A. the outdoors provides a place to reflect on one's life, the nation and each other

B. national parks are considered perfect places to hold anniversary events

. C. national parks are mainly intended for people to enjoy and relax in

D. Americans dunk these natural wonders area blessing from God

47. Why do national parks bring out Americans' patriotic feelings?

A. They are where the early settlers came from.

B. They remind them how their ancestors wanted to be free and independent.

C. They show the importance of uniting Americans.

D. They show how much Americans have achieved in improving the environment.

48. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The year of tourism is held to introduce all the people to the US' wonders of nature.

B. The author recommends that visitors to the US start with Smoky Mountains.

C. Places with amazing views set limits on numbers of visitors.

D. Artwork can give people a taste of nature's beauty in the US.

B

Most of us change our mobile phones every couple of years or so, but have yoever wondered what happens to the old one after it's no longer yours?

Well, a part of your old smartphone could soon be proudly worn around the neck of one of the world's top athletes.

Organizers of the next Olympic Games say that medals for the event will be made from recycled phones and household appliances. These items contain metals such as gold or silver, which can be extracted (提取)and reused.

“Computers and smartphones have become useful tools. However, I think it is wastefulto discard(丢弃)devices every time there is a technological advance and new models appear," three - time Olympic gold medal - winning gymnast Kohei Uchimura said in a press release.

It will require two tons of gold, silver and bronze to make the 5,000 medals. Collection boxes will be placed inside thousands of phone stores across Japan in the hope that the public will donate enough old devices to create the prizes.

"Toky0 2020 Olympic and Paralympic medals will be made out of people's thoughts and appreciation for avoiding waste," Uchimura added. "I think there is an important message in this for future generations.”

It's estimated that 20 to 50 million tons of "e - waste" are produced each year. According to a report by the UN University in Japan, the US causes most of this. The country throws away gadgets(电子设备)containing around$60 million (412 million yuan) worth of gold every year. Apple alone recovered almost $40 million worth of gold from recycled gadgets in 2014 - 999 kg in total.

But for those of us outside of Japan, what can we do to prevent the mountain of old tech from piling up?

“We encourage people to re- use stuff and if something is broken, to sell it for parts," Janet Gunter, co - founder of the Restart Project in London, told the BBC.

The group organizes free repair sessions across the UK, called "Restart Parties", where volunteers fix broken tech for free. It claims to have prevented over l, 270 kg of e - waste since 2012.

“The amount of stuff we throw away is just ridiculous,” volunteer Dave Lukes told the BBC. "It is very empowering (赋予力量的) for people to see that they can fix things.”

49. How will medals for the next Olympic Games differ from the previous ones?

A. They will have some features of smartphones.

B. They will be made from recycled gadgets.

C. They will be collected or donated by the public.

D. They will be designed to be easier to recycle.

50. What message will the 2020 Olympic medals convey according to Uchimura?

A. It's important to reuse and recycle e-waste.