A

Many visitors to the UK go straight to London and never explore outside the capital, which is a pity, for there is various landscape only a few hours away, in any one of Britain’s largest areas of protected countryside, its national parks.

The Cairngorms

The biggest is the Cairngorms in northern Scotland, with some of the country’s highest mountains and the best place for skiing. Ponytrekking, climbing and fishing are also popular, along with Scotland’s national game, golf. Wildlife enthusiasts are well rewarded—this is the home of the red deer, red squirrel and golden eagle.

The Lake District

Over the border in England is the Lake District, originally made famous by local Romantic poet William Wordsworth two hundred years ago. People have been travelling here in large numbers since 1847 when a railway was built to its biggest lake, Windermere. Children’s writers have found inspiration here too, and the mountains make for excellent walking, with breathtaking views.

Snowdonia

Wales also has its fair share of impressive landscape—Snowdonia was one of the first national parks to be created in 1951. You will find the road signs in two languages and hear Welsh spoken in the local shops. If mountain climbing is not your thing, try visiting a castle built by a 13^th-century prince, or check out the nearby beaches.

The Giant’s Causeway

For the strangest coastal scenery of all, cross the Irish Sea to the Giant’s Causeway, a set of basalt£¨ÐþÎäÑÒ£©columns formed by volcanic activity sixty million years ago—or, as legend£¨´«Ëµ£©has it, built by warrior giant Finn McCool to walk from Northern Ireland to fight his enemy in Scotland. The stone “steps” are not complete because the giant fell asleep—something you’ll probably want to do yourself at the end of an exciting day in the great British outdoors.

21. Which of the following can offer you wonderful snow scenery?

A. The Giant’s Causeway     B. Snowdonia            C. The Lake District        D. The Cairngorms

22. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. All of these national parks can be reached in several hours.

B. Snowdonia was the first national park to be created in the UK.

C. The Giant’s Causeway was built by warrior giant Finn McCool.

D. The Lake District attracts large numbers of people in that people can find inspiration there.

23. Which of the following magazines does this passage most probably appear?

A. Discovery                             B. News Weekly

C. National Geographic                       D. Space Exploration