【推荐1】Dickens House Museum

Type: Historic House / Palace
Address: 2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1QS
About

Dickens House Museum, Broadstairs celebrates Charles Dickens’ long connection with Broadstairs from 1837 to 1851, through personal items and letters. Guided tours available.

The museum is housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. David’s description of Betsey’s cottage with its square gravelled garden full of flowers, and a parlour of old fashioned furniture still fits today.

The character Betsy Trotwood is based on Miss Mary Pearson Strong who lived in the cottage that is now the museum. According to the reminiscences of Charles Dickens’ son Charley, he and his father regularly had tea and cakes in the parlour (会客室) with the kindly and charming Miss Mary Pearson Strong. He also remembers that Miss Pearson Strong was completely convinced of her right to stop the passage of donkeys along the cliff top in front of her cottage. This belief became the donkey incident for the character of Betsy Trotwood, with the famous quote: “Janet! Donkeys!”

Spread over four floors, the Charles Dickens Museum holds the world’s most important collection of paintings, rare editions, manuscripts, original furniture and other items relating to the life and work of Dickens. Perhaps the best-known exhibit is the portrait of Dickens known as Dickens’ Dream by R. W. Buss, an original illustrator of The Pickwick Papers. This unfinished portrait shows Dickens in his study at Gads Hill Place surrounded by many of the characters he had created.

What’s Nearby

1. What do we know about the cottage?

A．It houses items concerning Dickens.

B．It is far away from Viking Bay.

C．It is located near Dickens’ House Museum.

D．It was once Pickwick’s home.

2. Who is Miss Mary Pearson Strong?

A．A character in David Copperfield.

B．The housekeeper of Charles Dickens’ son.

C．The owner of the passing donkeys.

D．Dickens’ inspiration for the character Betsy Trotwood.

3. What can tourists do when visiting the Charles Dickens Museum?

A．Watch a movie.

B．Have afternoon tea in the parlour.

C．Appreciate Dickens’ Dream.

D．Enjoy art exhibitions of R.W. Buss.

【推荐2】You either have it, or you don’t –a sense of direction, that is. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map, while others can lose themselves in the next street?

Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we lose it .

“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around.” says Jim Martland. Research Director of the project. “However if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills”

Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions.

●If you are using a map, turn it so it relates to the way you are facing.

●If you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree. Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike. When you return, go back along the same route

●Simplify the way of finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or walls in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.

Now you need never get lost again!

1. What is true of seven-year-old children according to the passage?

A．They never have a sense of direction without maps.

B．They have a sense of direction and can find their way around.

C．They should never be allowed out alone if they lack a sense of direction.

D．They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car.

2. If you leave your bike in a strange place, you should ________.

A．remember something easily recognizable on the route

B．draw a map of the route to help remember where it is

C．avoid taking the same route when you come back in it

D．tie it to a tree so as to prevent it from being stolen

3. According to the passage the best way to find your way around is to ________.

A．ask policemen for directions

B．count the number of landmarks that you see.

C．use walls, streams, and streets to guide yourself .

D．remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs.

【推荐3】Through the following four cultural relics, the world has known about Korea’s cultural treasures.

Pulguksa Temple

Pulguksa Temple plays an important part in the history of Korean temples. The building of Pulguksa Temple began in 751. In the year 774 the large temple was finished, becoming an important center for Korean national-protection Buddhism (佛教). The way used to create the store structure gave the temple a look of beauty. The building thus represents the excellent Korean sculpting (雕刻).

Sokkuram Cave

Sokkuram Cave is a man-made cave, which has been sculpted from white stone in special sculpting ways. In the cave, a seated Buddha is the main statue. On the walls around him are found 38 other statues and the Four Heavenly Kings. This stone cave is one of Korea’s greatest places, built when Shilla’s religion, science and sculpture were at the height. It shows Shilla’s knowledge of math, physics and art.

Haeinsa Temple

Haeinsa Temple’s Changgyong Panjon is a world­class cultural treasure. It has 81,340 wooden blocks. Millions of Chinese characters were caved on the blocks. In addition to its artistic value, it is famous as the oldest Buddhist canon (教义) in the world today. The building is beautiful. What’s more important is that its design allows for natural wind as well as temperature control. Each book is 69.5cm in width and 23.9cm in height. There are 23 lines on each of the blocks and each line contains fourteen characters.

Changdokkung palace

Changdokkung palace, one of the five places of the Chosen Dynasty, was built in 1405. The oldest structure is Tonhwammun Gate. Other ancient buildings include Injongjon hall, Sonjongjon Hall and Taejojon Hall. The back garden for kings remains a great example of the ancient Korean scenery.

1. What do we know about Pulguksa Temple?

A．It is the largest temple in the world.

B．It allows for temperature control.

C．It was built with white stone.

D．It took more than 20 years to build it.

2. Which of the following cultural relics is among the best in the world?

A．Pulguksa Temple

B．Sokkuram Cave

C．Haeinsa Temple

D．Changdokkung palace

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．Haeinsa Temple has millions of stone blocks.

B．Tourists can learn about ancient king’ lives in Changdokkung palace.

C．Koreans learnt from Chinese to build all the four cultural relics.

D．The Four heavenly kings are the main statues of Sokkuram Cave.

【推荐3】Beyond the famous historic cities and world-famous sights, you’ll find the real Italy tucked away. Meet some of Italy’s lesser-known regions and get to know the real Italy.

Cilento

Located just south of Naples, the walking paths and coastal roads of Cilento will reward you with inspiring sea views, highland backdrops and beautiful harbor (港口) towns. The waterside restaurants offer the best buffalo mozzarella, a type of cheese, in Italy! You’ll find many hundred-year-old people living here thanks to their healthy diet.

Umbria

Landlocked Umbria is a truly corner of Italy and is a feast for the senses with its museums, galleries, Romanesque churches and cathedrals. Wander through the narrow streets of historic Perugia, take a guided tour of the impressive Etruscan caves at Orvieto, or admire the frescoes (湿壁画) of the Basilica di San Francesco and the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi.

Piedmont

While the region is full of green-gold vineyard (葡萄园), Piedmont is also a hotbed of culinary excellence, with its focus on local production and food origin. The small town of Bra and its parish, Pollenzo, is the birthplace of the international Slow Food movement, and home to the University of Gastronomic Sciences.

Basilicata

Basilicata is filled with historic hilltop towns that look out across the mountainous landscapes of the Lucanian Dolomites. As a region that remains relatively unexplored, it is a fascinating corner off the beaten path that is attractive for its historical presence. It’s home to neighbourhoods of prehistoric houses believed by many to be the place where Italy’s first settlers arrived over 9,000 years ago.

1. Which region has a number of long-lived people?

A．Cilento.

B．Umbria.

C．Piedmont.

D．Basilicata.

2. What can we learn about Umbria?

A．It is famous for grapes paintings.

B．It is a narrow place where few people live.

C．People can enjoy the best cheese in Italy.

D．People can be impressed by its galleries and museums.

3. What is special about Basilicata?

A．It attracts food lovers.	B．It is a less visited historic place.
C．It was once attacked by Italian.	D．It’s fascinating to walk on the path.

【推荐1】Asia is such a vast and diverse continent for anyone dreaming of an escape. Here are some best destinations to visit over the next 12 months.

Xi’an, China

Xi’an, China is supreme and then there’s the biggie (重要的事物)-the Army of Terracotta Warriors, celebrating 30 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.

Xi’an is vast, but a relaxed way of living and recent openings have boosted an already superb accommodation market. A crop of new bars and cafes are thrown in here. There’s never been a better time to visit.

South of Tokyo, Japan

Two cities in south of Tokyo are well worth visiting.

Yokohama is just a 20-mixinte train journey from the capital and packs considerable appeal with its bayside location, architecture, beer and tasty cuisine.

Less than an hour from Tokyo, fantastic seaside town Kamakura »s known for its surfing scene, but also offers an attractive selection of relaxed cafes and restaurants.

Sri Lanka’s Hill Country

Sri Lanka may be “so hot right now”, but Lonely Planet recommends a different experience.

Try getting ahead of (and away from) the pack by taking a scenic train to Sri Lanka’s Hill Country for a wonderfully temperate escape from the nation’s humid coasts.

This island owns a mountainous interior that is every bit as scenic as the coast, blessed by pleasantly cool temperatures that rarely above 21℃.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

“Raja” means “king” and this grand title is apparent. Packed with white-sand beaches, lush jungle and unusual mushroom-shaped small islands. Raja Ampat is a biological hotspot.

Home to some of the richest, most diverse coral reefs on the planet—over 200 diving spots are still in a state of nature—and this, paired with a growing ecotourism (生态旅游) offering, means Raja Ampat will no doubt remain king of the islands.

1. What can visitors do in Xi’an?

A．Shop in a fantastic seaside town.	B．Appreciate diverse heritage.
C．Enjoy mushroom-shaped small islands.	D．Experience planting crops by themselves.

2. Where is a surfer most likely to go?

A．Yokohama.	B．Raja Ampat.
C．Kamakura.	D．Sri Lanka’s Hill Country.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A fiction book.	B．A private letter.
C．A science report.	D．A travel guidebook.