Brazil
No country ignites the Western imagination as Brazildoes. For hundreds of years it has symbolized aprimordial, tropical paradise. From the mad passionof Carnival2 to the vastness of the dark Amazon3 ,Brazil is a country of mythical proportions.
Roughly the size of the US ( excluding Alaska) ,Brazil is a huge country encompassing nearly half ofSouth America , and bordering on most of the continent’s other nations — Ecuador and Chileare the exceptions. After 40 years of internal migration and population growth, Brazil is alsoan urban country; four out of every five Brazilians live in a city. Sao Paulo, with more than 17million inhabitants, is the world’s second most populous city. Brazil’s population is clusteredalong the Atlantic coast, and much of the country, including the massive Amazon Basin,remains scarcely populated and hard to access.
For most, the Brazilian journey begins in Rio de Janeiro4. One of the world’s great cities, Riohas developed a highly advanced culture of pleasure. It revolves around the famous beaches ofCopacabana, and is fueled by the music of samba 5 and the athleticism of soccer. Thishedonism reaches its climax every February or March, during the Carnival — five days ofrevelry, unrivaled by any other party on the globe. Rio de Janeiro state is blessed with some ofthe country’s best beaches. Inland, the coastal mountains rise rapidly from lush, green,tropical forest, culminating in spectacular peaks. The mountains are punctuated by nationalparks where you can enjoy Brazil’s best hiking and climbing.
The Amazon jungles are the world’s largest tropical rainforest, fed by the world’s largest river,and home to the richest and most diverse ecosystem on earth — a nature lover’s ultimatefantasy! Though threatened by rapid deforestation, the rainforest still offers years ofexploration for the adventurous traveler.
Wherever you go in Brazil, you’ll see Brazilians at their beaches playing. The beach is thenational passion. Fortunately, with over 8, 000 km of coastline, there are an incrediblenumber of superb beaches, so you should have little problem finding your own tropicalhideaway.
Brazil may not be the paradise on Earth that many travelers once imagined, but it is a land ofoften unimaginable beauty. There are still stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands withpristine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. And there are the people themselves, whodelight the visitor with their energy, fantasy and joy.
阅读自测
Ⅰ. Fill in the blanks with proper prepositions:
1. His words bordered_______ rudeness.
2. The feminine talk revolved mostly_______ clothes, bargains and small scandals.
3. He is blessed_______ good health.
4. The science fair culminated _______ the awarding of prizes.
5. He delighted the audience_______ his performance.
Ⅱ. Answer the question in your own words :
Why is Rio de Janeiro so attractive to travelers?
