IT had been a long，hard，wonderful day．The two of us had walked from the sea's edge through the length of a beautiful valley，climbed a superb mountain，traversed its narrow ，rocky ridge，and now stood on its final peak，tired，happy and looking for the perfect camp site．
The experienced backpacker has a natural feeling for such things，and our eyes were drawn to a small blue circle on the map，like an eye winking at us．We followed our judgment and descended steeply until it came into view．
We were right．It was a calm pool，with flat grass beside it．Gently taking our packs off，we made the first of many cups of tea before putting up our tent．Later that evening，over another cup of tea and after a good meal，we sat outside the tent watching the sun set over a glittering sea dotted with islands，towards one of which a ferry was slowly moving．It is not always so perfect，of course．On another trip，with a different companion，a thoroughly wet day had ended at a lonely farm．Depressed at the thought of camping，we had knocked and asked if we could use a barn as a shelter．
Backpacking could be defined as the art of comfortable，self－sufficient travel on foot．Everything you need is in the pack on your back，and you become emotionally as well as physically attached to it．I once left my pack hidden in some rocks while I made a long trip to a peak I particularly wanted to climb．I was away for nearly three hours and ended up running the last stretch in fear that my precious pack would not be there．It was，of course．
The speed at which the backpacker travels makes this the perfect way to see any country．You experience the landscape as aslow unfolding scene，almost in the way it was made；and you find time to stop and talk to history from simply chatting to people met while walking through an area．At the end of a trip，whether three days or three weeks，there's a good feeling of achievement，of having got somewhere under your own power．
After years of going out walking just for the day，many people start backpacking simply through wanting to stay out rather than cut short a trip．
In Britain，the backpacker is necessarily restricted and directed to a deGREe．There are no areas com pletely untouched by humans， though we do have fine wild country．In the north-west of Scotland，I have managed to walk for three days without crossing a road or passing an inhabited house．In the lowlands，your overnight stops may have to be on recognized camp sites．In upland country，you have the priceless gift of choosing where to camp．Even here，many factors come into play，and I shan't easily forget a night camped on a skirun surrounded by fences：we were simply too tired to go any further．
There is one im portant rule the good backpacker should follow：respect the land and its people—as the Am ericans say，“take
only photographs（one might add memories），leave only footprints．”
With good equipment，you can survive just about anything the weather can throw at you—and modern equipm ent is very good indeed．Of course，you need to know how to use it—go to a specialist outdoor shop for good advice．In particular，you need to be confident in map reading．
As with any other sport，start gently and locally，im prove your skills and gradually widen your horizons．Britain is only crowded in patches and there is still plenty of space for the backpacker wanting to be alone．
Choose the best answer for each sentence．
1．The writer and his companion knew there was a pool because ___________ ．
A．they had seen it earlier in the day
B．they had been told about it
C．they could see it on the map
D．they could see it from the top of the mountain
2．How did they feel at the end of the day？
A．They wished they could have found a farm．
B．They were delighted with the spot they'd found．
C．They were anxious about the weather to come．
D．They were too tired to put up their tent．
3．W hat does the writer mean by being “emotionally as well as physically attached”to his backpacklines？
A．He might die on the mountains without it．
B．It is not a good idea to leave it anywhere．
C．He walks better when he is wearing it．
D．It is more than just a practical aid．
4．According to the writer，the main advantage of backpacking is that you can ___________ ．
A．find out how the landscape was made
B．gain an understanding of the area you walk through
C．make new friends while walking
D．get fitter as you walk
5．What advice does the writer give about backpacking？
A．You should take lots the photographs to remind you of your trip．
B．You should avoid spending too much on equipment．
C．You should first walk in an area you are familiar with．
D．You should only go out in suitable weather．
答案；
1—5 CBDBC
