Alaska and Gates of the Arctic(b)

Alaska's richness in flora and fauna and its breathtaking landscapes have led to the establishment of 15 national parks, which are home to the United States' tallest mountains, biggest glaciers, and very exotic wildlife. Some of these parks embody Alaska's nickname, The Last Frontier, due to their remote locations. Four of America's top five largest national parks lie in Alaska. They are generally only accessible by chartered plane and recommended only to those who have sufficient wilderness survival skills.

Of these four national parks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is the country's second largest. It is located entirely north of the Arctic Circle and formed by America's northernmost chain of mountains, the Brooks Range. The park covers extensive tundra as well as wilderness. The landscape also includes rugged hills and broad valleys. The park is inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife, including arctic caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and various migratory birds.

The park got its name from the prominent wilderness activist, Robert Marshall, in 1929. While he was exploring the north fork of the Koyukuk River, he encountered two mountain peaks that flanked the river, hence the name. One unusual thing about the national park is that there are still around 1,500 people living in several communities dotting the perimeter of the park. Most of them are descendants of the first settlers that crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia. Their ancestors struggled to live in this harsh land by hunting, fishing, and making use of whatever natural resources were available. Still to this day, these park dwellers maintain their traditional ways of life in the wilds of the Alaskan frontier.

1.  What is the purpose of this article?

(A) To get people to move to Alaska.

(B) To get wealthy people to buy property in Alaska.

(C) To explain the history and scenery of America's biggest state.

(D) To help school-aged children with their history homework.

2.  How is Alaska unique?

(A) Only experienced explorers are allowed to visit.

(B) Tourists can see many different types of landscapes there.

(C) Very few people visit there.

(D) It was bought at a very cheap price from Russia.

3.  How do most people visit the four largest national parks in Alaska?

(A) They hike there in the snow.

(B) They get locals to drive them around.

(C) They use dogsleds.

(D) They hire a plane to take them there.

4.  What is special about the residents of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve?

(A) They are of Asian ancestry.

(B) They have very little contact with the outside world.

(C) They live mostly on tourism.

(D) They rely on their fighting skills to survive.

　　由于丰富的动植物以及令人屏息的美景，阿拉斯加已建立 15 座国家公园，这些公园当中有美国最高的山脉、最大的冰河，还有极特殊的野生生物。有些公园因为地点偏僻而具体呈现出阿拉斯加的昵称『最后的边疆』。美国前 5 大国家公园就有 4 座位于阿拉斯加。这几座公园通常只有包机才能抵达，也只推荐拥有充分野外求生技能的人前往。

　　在这 4 座国家公园之中，北极门国家公园及保护区是美国第 2 大国家公园。全区座落于北极圈以北，由美国最北的山脉布鲁克斯山脉构成。公园涵盖广阔的冻原和荒地，景色还包括嶙峋的丘陵和宽阔的山谷。公园中栖息着多种野生生物，包括北美驯鹿、北美灰熊、道尔山羊以及各种候鸟。

　　北极门国家公园是 1929 年由著名的野生动物活动家罗勃．马歇尔所命名。他在探索科尤库克河的北河口时，发现河的两侧各有 1 座山峰，因此有了这个称号。关于这座国家公园有 1 件不寻常的事，那就是至今尚有大约 1,500 人居住在散布公园周围的数个小区中。他们大部分是从亚洲跨越白令陆桥来的第 1 批定居者的后代。他们的祖先在恶劣的环境中靠着狩猎、捕鱼，和利用所有能取得的自然资源求生存。时至今日，公园里的这些居民还在阿拉斯加的边境荒野中保持着传统的生活方式。

答案：1. (C)2. (B)3. (D)4. (A)

阿拉斯加的第 2 大城费尔班，是地球上最适宜观赏极光的地区，在这个地区 1 年约有 243 天，也就是约 3 分之 2 的日子看得到极光，是极光出现机率最高的地方。费尔班附近的珍娜温泉是所有欣赏极光的著名城市中，最接近北极圈的城市，它比加拿大的白马市纬度更高。

而阿拉斯加众多的冰河当中，以哥伦比亚大冰河最著名，是北美第 1大冰河，搭乘小游轮近距离观赏壮丽的冰河奇景，最是过瘾。另外 1 个欣赏冰河奇景的好去处是威廉王子湾，沿途有多个冰河，包括：学院冰河、哈里曼冰河、贝利湾等凛冽巨大的冰河。（数据源：http://www.alaskatours.org.tw/alaska01.htm）