Yuanmingyuan — garden of all gardens     1    (burn) and fell into ruins in 1860. Recently my classmates had a discussion about     2     it should be rebuilt or not. Supporters of rebuilding the garden say only by doing so can we see the     3     (origin) sight of the garden, which reflects the Chinese civilization. And it will be another place of interest for     4     (visitor). If it is party rebuilt, it will provide a comparison and help us remember the history. Those     5     disagree think it more reasonable     6     (keep) the garden like this. The ruins will remind us     7     the past. We should never forget the history. Other buildings like the Palace Museum and the Summer Palace can also be symbols of the Chinese culture, so it isn’t     8     (necessity) to rebuild this garden. Some also worry that the environment will be destroyed when the construction goes on in this district.     9     (person), it is advisable to rebuild Yuanmingyuan, which will add beauty to the city. What’s more, the new scenic spot will no doubt promote     10     economic development of the local.

3 . Home to the world’s second biggest freshwater lake, as well as its longest lake, Africa hosts some of the best lakes on the planet. Here are some of our picks:

Lake Assal, Djibouti

Sitting at 155 meters below sea level, Lake Assal is in Africa’s lowest point. Its salt levels are 10 times greater than the sea. As such it is also the world’s largest salt reserve (储备量). Visitors will note there is no wildlife around due to its unfriendly desert climate and super salty water.

Lake Retba, Senegal

Photography fans will love Lake Retba for its breathtaking scenery. Also called the Pink Lake of Senegal, it is an impressive pink-colored lake. The color comes from a type of algae (海藻) that grows because of the large amount of salt in the lake. To see the lake at its most pink, you’ll want to visit during the November to June dry season.

Lake Turkana, Kenya

Lake Turkana is the largest long-lasting desert lake in the world, as well as its fourth-largest salt lake. Lake Turkana is most famous for the vapor rising out of the active volcano (火山) within it. A dream place for bird-watchers, it is home to hundreds of bird species that are only found in Kenya.

Kilauea has been erupting almost without stopping since 1983. It is one of the world’s most     1     (close) observed volcanoes. Most of these observations took place at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Kilauea’s highest point, from     2     researchers now have to withdraw. But the     3     (late) eruption is one of the biggest and could provide scientists     4     a lot of new information.

Scientists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and University of Hawaii are studying     5     the molten (熔化的) rock beneath the earth flows through a series of cracks (缝隙) under Kilauea before     6     (send) flying into the air. They want to learn what warning signs may exist for future eruptions to better protect Hawaii’s     7     (community).

Hundreds of small earthquakes caused by the eruptions have damaged the structure of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. So the scientists were forced     8     (take) the equipment and records out of the building and moved     9     (they) to the University of Hawaii. The records include     10     (science) information and photos that are more than 100 years old.

Chaoyang Street—situated at the foot of Yantai Mountain in Yantai, Shandong Province—is a lively commercial center that epitomizes (缩影) modernity.     1     (it) establishment dates back to 1872 during the Qing Dynasty (1644—1911).

Over the years, Chaoyang Street has attracted     2     (number) famous foreign businesses and shops. The street has a diverse array of buildings, including factories, shops, banks, and entertainment venues,     3     (decorate) with signs in both Chinese and English.

In 1880, German merchants opened     4     trading company on the east side of the northern section of Chaoyang Street,     5     was the largest peanut exporter in Yantai at the time. Since then, buildings on Chaoyang Street     6     (spring) up like mushrooms after rain.

Today, the street has     7     (complete) integrated modern bars and nightclubs into its lively atmosphere. Through ongoing efforts by local government, its reputation continues to rise,     8     (gain) increased popularity.

In recognition of its cultural and tourism     9     (significant), Chaoyang Street—Yantai Mountain Cultural District—was designated (指定)     10     a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption gathering area in August 2022. Chaoyang Street stands as a testament (证明) to Yantai’s continuous development, offering a glimpse into the city’s rich history while embracing a modern spirit.

7 . Small-town destinations have the advantage of being less expensive, without any compromises on charm. Newstweek’s Fast Women recommend these small towns wholeheartedly—from our own travels, or on the trusted advice of close friends.

Winery tasting rooms, a quaint downtown and boutique hotels make this city southwest of Portland a natural destination for an adults-only weekend getaway, Every May, McMinnville is also the home of the largest UFO Festival in the U.S., which explains why you’ll see alien art around town throughout the year.

This village located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas sits along the Urubamba River. Here you can take in stunning views of the valley and explore the ruins of the fortress overlooking the town, Wander through ancient streets built by the Incas and take in the landscape of distant mountains.

This small town was a part of the ancient Silk Road trading gateway between China and the Middle East, Today, it’s filled with frescos, havelis (multistory buildings with courtyards) and wall paintings that have transformed it into an open-air art gallery.

Australia’s Great Ocean Road follows the coast, making Lorne a perfect stopping-over point as you travel around the country by the sea. Famous as an art community, it is surrounded by sandy beaches and stunning waterfalls. It’s a great fishing destination, too.

8 . As one of the city’s most popular free outdoor events, the Cape Town Carnival is a multicultural celebration which focuses on social inclusion and bridging the divide between the diverse communities of the Western Cape and specifically Cape Town. It’s a celebration of the many diverse cultures which makes Cape Town stand out from the most world-famous cities. The carnival is considered a community participation event by the Western Cape Government and draws bigger crowds each year.

The event serves a platform for local performance groups, designers, musicians and artists to showcase their talents to the world. Every year, it may create over 1, 000 part-time jobs. The long-term vision, however, is to create more programmes focusing on skills development, thus permanently employing people. Since 2010 when the carnival was held on Long Street, it has become the festival of the year, and has grown from 17, 000 spectators to as many as 55, 000. This year, the carnival will be held on the Fan Walk in Green Point.

And its theme is Mother City, Mother Nature, exploring two of Cape Town’s greatest assets, its natural beauty and its people. The festival will showcase what makes the Mother City one of the most unique cities in the world. Over 2, 000 shining costumed performers and musicians will take to Cape Town’s Fan Walk, entertaining viewers with floats (花车) and dynamic dance routines. The parade (游行) will be followed by a grand street party, showcasing some of South Africa’s hottest musical talent.

Fans and tourists are encouraged to join in the street festivities anytime from 16: 00, when it will turn into a pedestrian walkway with 2km of food stands and festive hospitality (好客) areas. Later in the evening Cape Town will up the pace with the most appealing and festive open air party, the Cape Town Carnival Street Party! This Culture Comer: A Glimpse of Cape Town, was contributed by Marilyn Steward. I’m Rich Claymount. Stay tuned and see you next time.

Seated in the center of Beijing, the Palace Museum,     1     was built in the former palace of the Ming(1368—1644) and Qing(1644—1911）dynasties,     2    （cover)an area of 1.12 square kilometers, and is home to 1.8 million artistic     3    (piece)that represent the best part of Chinese traditional culture.

Ever since     4     founding of the museum in 1925, the halls of the former palace have been turned into public showrooms, while the royal families’ private rooms have been preserved     5    （protect)the old decorations.

Exhibitions     6    (feature)architecture, bronzes and ceramics are available all year round but exhibitions of paintings and calligraphic works are     7    (basic)held in Spring and Summer due to strict requirements for proper temperature and humidity. Many of the     8    (remark)artworks, including paintings, sculptures and rare books, belong     9     the royal families’ private collection.

The northern and southern sections of the palace wall are accessible and a walk on top of the ten-meter-high wall can be the best way either to start     10     to end a tour of the Museum as one can enjoy a sweeping view of the entire Forbidden City.