In the southern part of France, away from the charm of Paris and the scenic Riviera, lies Toulouse, often referred to as “La Ville Rose” or “The Pink City.” Its nickname comes from the unique terra-cotta bricks used in many of its, buildings, giving the city a distinctive style.
Historically, Toulouse traces its roots back to the ancient times. It was originally established by the Celts in the 4th century BC and later became a significant Roman settlement. The city’s strategic position near the Germane River made it a well-known trading center in ancient Europe. By the Middle Ages, Toulouse had become a major center of trade due to its dye industry. This trade brought immense wealth to the region, and the city’s grand houses and public buildings from this era reflect is opulence (繁华).
However, Toulouse was not just a center for trade. Its history is marked with intellectual pursuits. By the 13th century, Université de Toulouse was established, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. The institution attracted scholars from various parts of Europe.
In modern times, Toulouse is famous for its aerospace industry. Home to Airbus, one of the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturers, the city is a center point in global aviation. This modern achievement connects with Toulouse’s rich history, showcasing a combination of the old and the new.
One of the most significant landmarks in Toulouse is the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, an architectural marvel from the Romanesque period. The church stands as a testament to the city’s religious significance during the medieval (中世纪的) times. Another notable part is the Capitole de Toulouse, which houses the city hall and a grand opera building. Its facade, made with the characteristic pink bricks, showcases the essence (本质) of Toulouse.
Despite its historical significance and achievements, Toulouse often remains overshadowed by other French cities. Yet, those who went to this southern gem find themselves fond of its rich history, vibrant culture, and the warmth of its inhabitants.
Visiting Toulouse offers an opportunity to step back in time while remaining firmly grounded in the present. It’s a city that embraces is past, cherishes its traditions, yet looks forward with optimism. In the European cities, Toulouse shines as a wonderful, yet irreplaceable one.
1. Why is Toulouse called “La Ville Rose” or “The Pink City?”2. What are the reasons for Toulouse to become a center of trade in the history?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Basilica of Saint-Sernin stands as a testament to the city’s intellectual significance during medieval time.
4. In your opinion, which city in China is like Toulouse, which cherishes its traditions, yet looks forward with optimism? Why?
There is a place
Construction of the Tower of Pisa began in 1173
1变化(交通transportation,环境environment,……);
2.原因;
3.欢迎他再来平谷。
注意:1.词数100左右;
2.开头和结尾已给出,不计入总词数。
Dear Jim,
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Yours,
Li Hua
A new study reveals more answers about why Earth’s second largest ocean is expanding four centimetres.
That’s around the height of a golf tee. The width of a cracker. It’s also the amount that the Atlantic Ocean is expanding every year.
Now when you’re talking about an ocean that is 4,830 kilometres (3,000 miles) wide at its largest point, 4 centimetres (1.6 inches) is not much. But it is happening. So naturally, scientists want to know why.
Thanks to a new study, researchers think that they have the answer why. You could even call it a ‘hot take’. As in hot magma, or molten rock, deep under the ocean floor!
The study suggests that the expansion is being caused by magma(岩浆) bubbling up from under an underwater ‘mountain range’ called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Let’s start with what that ridge is.
Basically, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the seam between some very large tectonic plates. The ridge is also known as a plate boundary. As we’ve discussed before here, tectonic plates are essentially the platforms that our continents rest on. They are large pieces of the crust that are always moving in slow motion.
This movement is what causes earthquakes, for example. And the areas where the plates meet are where we tend to find things like mountains and volcanos, as well.
In this case, as the magma bubbles up from the mantle(地幔) below the crust, it is pushing the edges of both plates out of the way. As a result, the ocean is slowly getting wider.
This is a new finding. Before the study, scientists thought that the plates were being pulled apart—they were being dragged away from the ridge by forces occurring on either side of the ocean, not from in the middle.
Scientists still believe that this ‘pulling’ motion is happening. It is just that now, they feel that the bubbling magma is an important force as well. There is push and pull.
The scientists behind this study have been quick to point out that their research is only looking at a small cross-section of the ridge. It’s like a slice across it. What is happening right along this slice, may not be happening the same way up and down the entire ridge. But it is still really useful information—and how they got it is pretty cool.
Back in 2016, a research ship traveled to a very quiet spot directly over the ridge. Over five weeks, the crew dropped 39 seismometers on to the ocean floor. These devices allow them to ‘listen’ to the activity of the tectonic plates and what was beneath it. It’s like what a stethoscope does with your heartbeat, but for the planet. A year later, they retrieved the devices and looked at the data.
Then it was back to the lab to try and piece together what they learned. In the end, they have added to our understanding of how and why the Earth’s surface constantly moves. Even if it is only by about a little bit each year!
1. What is causing the expansion of Earth’s second largest ocean?2. What does the underlined phrase “This movement” refer to?
3. Please decide which part of the following statement is false, then underline it and explain why.
Scientists find that it is the magma below the crust that is pushing the edges of both plates out of the way to cause the ocean to slowly get wider, but not the forces occurring on either side of the ocean pulling the plates apart.
4. What do you think of the process of how the finding was got? (about 40 words)
Mount Qomolangma, or Mount Everest, is the world's
8 . Mars on Earth
Devon Island has always been a cold and uninhabited(无人居住的) place in the Canadian Arctic. Day after day there are high winds and the temperature is below freezing. But for the first time, despite the terrible weather conditions, Devon Island is the new home for a group of explorers from NASA. They are living here for a few months in order to train and learn how to live and work on Mars. The group’s members come from various backgrounds and nationalities, but they all have the same purpose: to find out how people can live on Mars in the future.
They have chosen Devon Island because the environment and landscape is similar in many ways to Mars. The surface is freezing cold and the ground is rough. However, there are some differences on Mars, where the atmosphere is poisonous to breathe. Devon Island is easier to travel to and it has its own dangers that you won’t find on Mars. For example, you might meet a hungry polar bear on Devon Island!
One thing the team wants to develop is suitable clothing for Mars. This includes a space suit. The suit they are testing at the moment is strong enough but it’s too difficult to put on and take off. It’s very big and bulky, which means that just walking around is very difficult and tiring. In addition, people will need to do experiments on Mars while wearing the suit so they have to be able to move around easily. One team member, Andy Overbeeke, specializes in space suit engineering. He explains, “You have to think about what they’re really going to operate in.”
Another part of daily life on Mars will be meals and food. Creating a new home on Mars requires a lot of food. So the big question is: can you grow plants in order to survive? Scientists believe that growing plants on Mars might be possible. Mars and Earth have many similarities. They both have about the same amount of dry land and a 24-hour day. However, the atmosphere on Mars is totally different, so Canadian scientist Alain Berinstain is attempting to grow plants in a special greenhouse that you could also build on Mars. The greenhouse needs to run 365 days a year, so it uses a combination of solar energy and wind power.
People living on Mars will also want their own transportation. For this, the team on Devon Island have built the “Martian Rover”. It’s a huge heavy vehicle that can travel over rocks and rough terrain. This kind of testing takes many days but so far the work has been valuable and effective. As a result, the whole team now believes their work is crucial and that it’s possible for humans to land on the planet Mars and create a home there. Addy Overbeeke adds: “We know that it’s man’s destiny to go out and do space exploration. It’s always time to think about what you want to do in the future.”
1. The explorers are living on Devon Island to ________.A.receive a training in astronomy |
B.set up an advanced research lab |
C.learn how to live and work on Mars |
D.make a living in an uninhabited land |
A.create a new home |
B.improve the atmosphere |
C.build special greenhouses |
D.reduce the area of dry land |
A.man may live on Mars in the future |
B.Martian Rover has failed to stand the test |
C.Mars and Devon Island have the same soil condition |
D.scientists have mastered the method to grow plants on Mars |
9 . Around the world, there are about 7,000 National Parks. Most of them cover huge areas of land where nobody lives. However, the National Parks in England include places where people live and work, as well as wild areas where there are few human activities.
The National Parks in England are called “England’s Breathing Spaces” because they are places where people can go to be in the open air, away from the dirt and noise of cities. They provide wonderful scenes of mountains, woods, grasslands and wetlands. And there are plenty of activities to do in all of the National Parks in England. Visitors can walk or ride bikes for fun. Many of the parks put on activities for families.
Every year there are about 110 million visitors to the parks, bringing many benefits(益处)to the areas. At the same time, it creates problems too. First, life can be difficult for local people. Car parks and roads are too crowded. Gift shops and cafes take the place of many everyday shops. Even house prices in some areas can become too high. Besides, country roads can be damaged, for too many people walk, cycle or ride horses on them. Roads can be rebuilt, but then they look less natural. Another big problem to the National Parks is litter. In the parks it is a danger to wild animals. Broken glass can also cause fires by focusing the rays of the sun. Such fires in wild places can be out of control.
? All National Parks in England are making more rules, which tell people how to take good care of their environment. If these rules are followed, the National Parks will be well kept and continue to give pleasure to many people for a very long time.
1. Visitors to the National Parks in England can .A.give food to wild animals | B.drive cars on the grasslands |
C.enjoy fresh air and peaceful time | D.have fun farming with local people |
A.the problems of the National Parks | B.the pollution caused by visitors |
C.the development of the National Parks | D.the benefits brought by visitors |
A.What can people get | B.How can people help |
C.What are the National Parks like | D.How are the National Parks set up |
A.transport | B.wildlife |
C.history | D.geography |
10 . The Beijing Vanke-Shijinglong Ski Resortis located