漫步太魯閣

Walking Taroko's Trails for Fun and Health (健行太魯閣步道：樂趣與健康)

Vocabulary and Grammar (字彙與文法)

trail n. [trel] 小徑；步道

A path through a forest, mountain, or other natural area, made for walking or hiking. (穿過森林、山區或其他自然區域的小路，供步行或健行之用。)

Taroko has many beautiful trails to walk. (太魯閣有許多美麗的步道可以行走。)

easy adj. [ˋizɪ] 簡單的；容易的

Not difficult to do or understand. (不難做或理解的。)

The Shakadang Trail is an easy trail. (砂卡礑步道是一條簡易的步道。)

difficult adj. [ˋdɪfəkəlt] 困難的

Hard to do, understand, or deal with. (難以做到、理解或應付的。)

Some trails are more difficult than others. (有些步道比其他的更困難。)

river n. [ˋrɪvɚ] 河流

A large natural flow of water that goes into an ocean or lake. (流入海洋或湖泊的大量自然水流。)

The Shakadang Trail follows a river. (砂卡礑步道沿著一條河流。)

rocks n. [rɑks] 石頭；岩石 (常用複數)

The hard, solid material that forms part of the Earth's surface. (構成地球表面一部分的堅硬固體物質。)

You can see interesting rocks on the trail. (你可以在步道上看到有趣的岩石。)

tunnel n. [ˋtʌn!] 隧道

A passage that goes under the ground or through a mountain. (穿過地下或山脈的通道。)

The Swallow Grotto Trail goes through tunnels. (燕子口步道會穿過隧道。)

gorge n. [gɔrdʒ] 峽谷

A deep, narrow valley with steep, rocky sides. (兩側有陡峭岩壁的深窄山谷。)

You can see the narrowest part of the gorge. (你可以看到峽谷最窄的部分。)

waterfall n. [ˋwɔtɚ͵fɔl] 瀑布

A place where water from a river or stream falls down over a cliff or rock. (河水或溪水從懸崖或岩石上落下之處。)

The Baiyang Trail leads to a tall waterfall. (白楊步道通往一個高大的瀑布。)

health n. [hɛlθ] 健康

The condition of your body and mind. (你的身體和心靈的狀況。)

Walking is good for your health. (走路有益健康。)

relax v. [rɪˋlæks] 放鬆；休息

To become less worried or tense; to rest. (變得不那麼擔心或緊張；休息。)

Walking in nature helps you relax. (在自然中行走有助於你放鬆。)

improve v. [ɪmˋpruv] 改善；增進

To make something better. (使某事物變得更好。)

Walking can improve your mood and leg strength. (走路可以改善你的心情和腿部力量。)

stressed adj. [strɛst] 感到有壓力的；緊張的

Feeling worried or unable to relax. (感到擔心或無法放鬆的。)

Walking helps you feel less stressed. (走路有助於你減輕壓力感。)

Introduction

Taroko National Park is famous for its amazing views, and one of the best ways to see them is by walking its many trails. These are paths that take you through nature. Some trails are short and easy, while others are longer and more challenging, but there's something for everyone. Plus, walking is great for your body and mind!

Reading (閱讀)

In Taroko National Park, you can find many different trails to explore. It's important to choose a trail that matches your ability and how much time you have. Some trails are perfect for a relaxing walk, while others will give you more of a workout.

One popular easy trail is the Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑步道). This lovely path follows the Shakadang River. As you walk, you can admire the incredibly clear, blue-green water and the beautiful marble rocks and cliffs along the riverbank. It's a gentle walk, good for families.

Another well-known easy trail is the Swallow Grotto Trail (燕子口步道). Here, you walk along a road through tunnels carved into the rock. You get to see the narrowest parts of the impressive Taroko Gorge, a deep and steep valley. If you look closely at the cliffs, you might see small holes where swallows build their nests, which is how the grotto (a small cave-like area) got its name. Remember to wear a safety helmet here, as small rocks can sometimes fall.

For those wanting something a bit more challenging, the Baiyang Waterfall Trail (白楊瀑布步道) is a wonderful choice, though it is still quite manageable. This trail leads you through several dark tunnels – so bring a flashlight! At the end of the trail, you are rewarded with the sight of a very tall and beautiful waterfall. It’s a very scenic hike.

Walking these trails in Taroko is not just about seeing beautiful places; it's also very good for your health. Walking regularly makes your heart stronger and helps you breathe better. Being in nature while you walk can also help you to relax and feel less stressed or worried. Many people find that walking improves their mood and gives them more energy for the day. It's also a good way to improve your leg strength. So, exploring Taroko's trails is a fantastic way to enjoy nature and boost your well-being!

Questions (問題)

Q: What can you see along the Shakadang Trail?

A: You can see a river with beautiful blue water and interesting rocks.

Q: What should you remember to bring or wear for the Swallow Grotto Trail and the Baiyang Waterfall Trail?

A: For Swallow Grotto, you should wear a safety helmet. For Baiyang Waterfall Trail, you should bring a flashlight for the dark tunnels.

Q: List three benefits of walking that are mentioned in the text.

A: Walking makes your heart stronger, helps you breathe better, helps you relax, makes you feel less stressed, can improve your mood, gives you more energy, and can improve leg strength. (Any three are acceptable).

Discussion (討論)

Q: If you visited Taroko National Park, which of the three trails described (Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, Baiyang Waterfall) would you most like to walk? Why? (如果你參觀太魯閣國家公園，描述的三條步道（砂卡礑、燕子口、白楊瀑布）中，你最想走哪一條？為什麼？)

A: I would most like to walk the Baiyang Waterfall Trail. Even though it's a bit more difficult and has dark tunnels, seeing a tall waterfall at the end sounds like a great reward. I enjoy hikes that lead to something beautiful like a waterfall. (我最想走白楊瀑布步道。儘管它比較困難且有黑暗的隧道，但在終點能看到一個高大的瀑布聽起來是很棒的獎勵。我喜歡通往像瀑布這樣美麗景色的健行。)

Q: What are some of your favorite ways to exercise or be active while enjoying nature? (你最喜歡在享受大自然的同時，進行哪些運動或活動？)

A: I enjoy cycling on paths by the river or through parks. It's a good way to see different places and get fresh air. Sometimes I also like to go for a light jog in a forest park because it's peaceful and the trees provide shade. (我喜歡在河邊或公園的小徑上騎自行車。這是欣賞不同地方和呼吸新鮮空氣的好方法。有時候我也喜歡在森林公園裡慢跑，因為那裡很寧靜，樹木也能提供遮蔭。)

Conclusion (結論)

Taroko National Park offers a wonderful selection of walking trails, from the easy riverside Shakadang Trail and the impressive Swallow Grotto Trail to the scenic Baiyang Waterfall Trail. Exploring these paths not only allows you to witness the stunning beauty of the gorge but also provides excellent benefits for your physical health and mental well-being, helping you feel stronger, more relaxed, and energized.