2 .

People say the real culture of Beijing lies in the culture of hutong and siheyuan.     1     true it is! They give an understanding of the old lifestyle of ordinary Beijingers. If you want to truly know the real life of Beijingers, a half-day hutong tour     2     (be) a good choice.

Starting during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), hutongs are narrow (狭窄的) streets which     3     (form) by lines of siheyuan, and they are at the center of old neighborhood life in Beijing.

The word “hutong” comes from Mongolian and means “water well”. People in ancient times dug a well and lived around it, so “water well” became the name of the living area and then the name of the narrow streets. From the name of a hutong, you can guess its origin (起源). However, the meaning of hutong has cultural aspects (方面).

If the Forbidden City is     4     symbol of the Chinese royal (皇家的) family, then hutongs are the epitome (缩影) of the life of ordinary Beijing people. They are like museums of folk custom, showing the culture of Beijingers. Every hutong has its story     5     (tell). Neighbors in Beijing hutongs sit down over a cup of tea, catching up with each other’s play, shopping, and conversation.

Many famous operas and dramas are based on the theme of “hutong life”. A visit to hutongs by day plus a drama by the Beijing People’s Art Theatre in the evening will help you     6     (well) understand this basic part of life in Beijing. So don’t miss it.

Have you heard of Tianshui Spicy Hot Pot (麻辣烫)? Recently, a short video on Douyin has made it popular all over China. Tianshui l    1     in the southeast of Gansu Province. Many visitors have hurried to Tianshui on weekends in order to o    2     a bowl of it in the local restaurant. Some of them say Tianshui Spicy Hot Pot is t    3     than that in other areas because of the special way of making it. It is said that the number of people who eat it has i    4     by 190% in the past few weeks.

An owner of the local restaurant told China Daily that he is very tired every day now. He has to work for 14 to 15 hours a day and all of his free time has been taken u    5     by it these days. However, he will do his best to satisfy the need of all the c    6    .

And he will keep providing a high level of s    7     for visitors every day. He also reminds us that we should not eat too much of spicy hot pot. It may make our stomachs feel u    8     and we may get fat easily. The local government also tries its best to provide different ways of transport. You can get around the city by taking a bus or an u    9    .

So far, we have learned some information about Tianshui Spicy Hot Pot. If you want f    10     information about it, please visit Tianshui for yourselves one day.

Rugao is a modern town now. Great changes     1     (take) place over the past few years, including living conditions, transport, environment and people.

Local people used to     2     (live) in old houses. They could only travel by bus. Now most of them have moved into new flats and there is a high-speed railway station in the     3     (south) part of town. Most people are used to travelling    4     business by high-speed railway. Moreover, the government has turned part of the town centre into a modern library. People often go there to relax     5     (they) after a hard day’s work.

Another big change is the environment. In the past, people     6     (drop) litter everywhere. Waste from     7     (factory) was put into rivers. The rivers were filled with pollution. Now there are laws to limit and improve it. If people drop litter carelessly in public, they will be punished. As a result, there is less     8     (pollute) in rivers now.

People in the town are trying to be polite citizens. More people are willing to give a hand if someone is in need. Daniel, a middle school student, is also a volunteer at the community centre now. He and his classmates often discuss how     9     (help) people in need. He thinks his life is much     10     (mean) now.

Many hands make light work. People in Rugao believe that if they work together, they can surely make Rugao a better place.

8 . If you’re a city walker and planning a vacation in Shanghai, I’ve got a great place for you to visit: Huaihai Middle Road. Here, you can     1     (sure) find the beauty of old Shanghai     2     experience the international side of the city.

Starting from the northern end, you’ll find     3     local (当地) restaurant called Guangmingcun, known     4     its delicious mooncakes. Right across the street, you can discover different     5     (kind) of Shanghai local snacks at Harbin Food Factory. This is the     6     (perfect) place to pick up some Shanghai food like butterfly cookies. As you continue along. you’ll come across a Pop Mart shop. If you’re a fan of unknown boxes, this is a must-visit! And if you’re want to buy a pair of glasses with something new and fashionable, it’s better to check out Gentle Monster, a cool South Korean glasses shop that has a good     7     (communicate) with future.

There are so many things     8     you won’t miss anything you’re interested in. So, come here and go on an     9     (excite) city walk to discover it all for     10     (our)!

Do you know about New York? It is one of the most     1     (excite) cities in the world. If you want to visit it, please read the notice. It will help you a lot.

In New York, there is a good subway     2     (serve). Before taking the subway, you must buy tickets. If you buy a subway ticket for ten     3     (journey), it’s much     4     (cheap).

If you like walking, you can also visit many places that are wonderful, such as the Empire State Building and Central Park. Of course, don’t forget to climb the Statue of Liberty to enjoy the scenery (景色) of the city.

As for hotels, the best one is the Plaza Hotel.     5     you want to pay a lot, you can look for some small     6     clean hotels near Central Park. You may even live here like a New Yorker. You may rent (租用) an apartment in the city. It will offer an unusual experience     7     you during your visit to New York.

In New York, there is also a world of great taste     8     (wait) for you. Some good restaurants are in Little Italy and Chinatown, for example. If you are a shopping fan, you can enjoy shopping in New York. Fifth Avenue is     9     (probable) New York’s most famous shopping street. The clothes there are very expensive, but “window shopping” is always free.

If you want to look for a place that has everything, there’s a good place     10     (visit) , and that’s New York.