There are long rivers， and there are famous rivers． The Nile（尼罗河）is the world's longest and most famous river． It runs 6，650 kilometers． Crocodiles and hippos（河马）live in its waters． Pyramids built by ancient Egyptians rise along its banks．

    The main branch of the Nile， the White Nile， starts just above Lake Victoria， the world's second largest fresh﹣water lake， in east central Africa． Then it flows to the north． At Sudan's capital， another great river called the Blue Nile joins the White Nile． Together， they form one very powerful river． Then it goes through Egypt's famous Nile Valley before reaching the Mediterranean Sea．

    Ancient Egypt， the first great African civilization（文明）， started along the banks of the Nile more than 5，000 years ago． Ancient Egypt ruled the Nile Valley for thousands of years． Great pyramids and temples were built on the banks and we can still visit them today．

    Without the rich farmland along the banks of the Nile， there might be no ancient Egypt civilization． Every year， the Nile flooded its banks． The floodwaters covered the banks with a rich soil． The Nile's banks were easy to farm and produce crops．

    The Nile also made a perfect highway for boats． The river runs north， but the wind on the river blows south． To go south， boaters put up sails to catch the wind． To go north， they took the sails down． Ancient people traded along the river for hundreds of miles．

The Nile ﹣ the （1）　　 and most famous river in the world
Where does the Nile flow？	• The White Nile is the （2）　___　 branch of the Nile． It starts （3）　____　 Lake Victoria and then runs to the north． • The Blue Nile joins the White Nile at the （4）　__ of Sudan． They form a powerful river． • Then the Nile goes through the Nile Valley． Finally it （5）　___　 the Mediterranean Sea．
The Nile's long and rich （6）　　.	• Ancient Egypt started along the banks of the Nile over 5.000 years ago． Its people （7）　___　 pyramids and temples we can still visit today． • Every year the Nile flooded its banks． The floodwaters covered the banks with a rich soil． Rich farmland made this ancient civilization（8）　　． • The Nile made a perfect highway for boats． To go south， boaters put up sails to catch the wind． To go （9）　　， they took the sails down． Ancient people bought and （10）　___　 goods along the river for hundreds of miles．