5、Environmental protection was stressed at Kanas, a growing tourism destination in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, famous for its attractive scenery and its “lake monster”.

“All of the hotels and restaurants will withdraw from the scenic site to 30 kilometers away,” said Jim Liquan, an official with the Kanas Environment and Tourism Bureau. The move aims to protect environment of Kanas, a scenic site that is part of the European ecosystem and borders Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia. Meanwhile, construction of environmental facilities including sewage(污水) and rubbish treatment plants will be completed soon.

According to Mao Ken, chief of Altay Prefecture where Kanas is located, the government invested 1 billion yuan (US $ 120 million) on environmental facilities. “Education for tourists is also important,” he said. An education center is being created to provide information on how to protect the environment in Kanas. But he vowed that the government would not interfere with the lives of traditional residents in Kanas.

It is expected that Kanas will receive more than 500,000 tourists this year, 4,000 more than last year, according to the official. “However, there are still few overseas visitors,” he said. Statistics showed that only 2 percent of the total number of tourists is foreigners. “This is partly because the transportation facilities connecting Kanas are still not convenient enough,” Mao said. At present, there is only one highway connecting Kanas.

“Upon request from tourists, construction of an airport will start this month and will be completed by the end of next year,” the official said. A railway line connecting Kuitun and Altay will also open to traffic in 2008 to make it possible to travel to Kanas by train, probably bringing in more tourists.

 

53. We can learn from the passage that Kanas is _____.

A. a lake

B. a town in Europe

C. a Kazakhstan city next to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

D. a tourism destination located in Altay Prefecture

54. There are few overseas visitors to Kanas because _____.

A. scenery in Kanas is not attractive enough

B. Kanas hasn’t been known to them 

C. the transportation to Kanas is not convenient enough

D. they are afraid of the “lake monster”

55. Which of the following has the same meaning with the underlined word “withdraw” in the passage?

A. Go forward    B. Destroy    C. Replace     D. Move back

56. Which of the following is NOT the measure to be taken to improve environmental protection in Kanas?

A. To build an airport and a railway station to make it possible to travel to Kanas.

B. To invest a large sum of money to construct some of environmental facilities.

C. To withdraw all of the hotels and restaurants from the scenic site to 30 kilometers away

 D. To create an education center for protection