1 . The Golden Gate Bridge is a well-recognized landmark in the United States. It spans (横跨) the Golden Gate Strait — a mile-wide stretch of water that connects the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. It is also one of the tallest.

The idea for a bridge across the strait had been around for many years, because San Francisco suffered from its isolated location. Planning for the Golden Gate Bridge began in 1916, but the design underwent many changes before construction finally started in 1933.

Joseph Strauss was the chief engineer in charge of the bridge project. However, he had little experience with the construction of suspension bridges (吊桥). For this reason, other engineers, architects, and designers made great contributions to the design and construction of the bridge. For example, the bridge owes its art deco (装饰派艺术) style and distinctive orange color to the architects Irving and Gertrude Morrow. Charles Alton Ellis did much of the technical work necessary to build the bridge.

It was not easy to get the project started. Financing had to be found, and there was much opposition to the very idea of a bridge. The US Navy, for example, feared, that a bridge would block ship traffic. The Southern Pacific Railroad, which ran the ferry fleets (轮渡船队), feared competition from the bridge. Many experts did not believe that it would be possible to build such a long bridge under such difficult circumstances. There are strong currents and heavy winds on the bridge site, which made construction dangerous.

The construction of the bridge finally began in 1933. The construction work set new standards for safety — workers were among the first required to wear hard hats, and a safety net saved the lives of nineteen men while the bridge was built. The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, when the bridge was opened to pedestrians (行人). It was opened to cars one year later. The bridge was finished ahead of schedule and cost much less than originally budgeted.

Because the Golden Gate Bridge is the first sight for many people arriving in the United States by ship, it is sometimes called the “Statue of Liberty” for the West Coast.

A skywell, or “tian jing” in Chinese, is a typical feature of a traditional home in Southern and Eastern China. They are commonly seen in homes     1     (date) to the Ming and Qing dynasties, which     2     (design) to house different generations of relatives. Despite their varied sizes and designs, these skywells are typically square and located in     3     heart of the house. They serve to allow in light, enhance airflow, and harvest rainwater.

Since decades ago, the government     4     (advocate) green buildings, promoting environmentally-friendly practice. The increased interest towards traditional Chinese architecture is leading to the restoration of historic buildings with skywells     5     modern use. Architects are also looking towards the principles behind skywells while designing new buildings     6     (save) energy. The Dongguan TBA Tower in Guangdong Province, for example, brings natural airflows into every floor with internal “windpipes”    7     function in a similar way to skywells. The aim is to keep the building's temperature     8     (comfort) in all seasons, using only natural airflow.

The fact that skywells still exist today shows     9     clever ancient builders were in using nature's elements to create energy-sufficient and sustainable living spaces. These timeless architectural     10     (wonder) continue to inspire architects in their efforts to find green solutions for cooling homes and buildings.

4 . Whether you are a fine art lover or history enthusiast, there are some museums that you should visit in your lifetime. Here’s a list of the best museums in the world.

LE LOUVRE, PARIS

A visit to the Louvre lets visitors discover ancient civilizations and Western art from the Middle Ages to 1848. The palace of the museum, dating back to the twelfth century and developed by architects from 1200 to 2011, is a lesson in architecture. The most famous art work is Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”.

THE UFFIZI GALLERIES, FLORENCE

The museum occupies a large building constructed between 1560 and 1580. It’s famous for its outstanding collections of ancient sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the Modern period, and mainly known for its paintings by Italian artists.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON

As the first national museum to cover all fields of human knowledge, it was founded in 1753 and opened its doors in 1759. Its eight million objects allow us to explore the diversity of human cultures, and discover the expressions in human being’s life. It boasts the world’s second finest collection of Egyptian antiques.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK

Also known as “the Met”, it’s the largest art museum in the America. Presenting over 5,000 years of art from around the world, the museum lives in two sites in New York: The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Since its founding in 1870, it has been a treasury of rare and beautiful objects, ranging from European paintings, Egyptian collections to American paintings.

8 . Is going alone in an unknown area the right way to go, or do you want a tour guide to show you the highlights? I think that you can combine the two ways in one trip and have the best of both worlds.     1     The best purchase we made was for a bus tour that would take us around the capital and point out all the main sites. That allowed us the next day to travel on foot to the ones we especially wanted to see.

Let’s look at the San Francisco Bay Area which is another one of my favorite vacation spots. Some areas are so familiar to tourists that it’s possible to view the attractions on your own.     2     Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are good examples. Just by walking a few blocks, you can tour Aquarium of the Bay and the Riptide Arcade on Pier 39.

    3     If you go to Alcatraz Island, you have a choice of going alone, having a live tour guide or being guided by earphones. I would recommend the live tour guides. I went all three ways, and I received more enjoyment by someone telling me items interest I know I had missed on previous tours.     4     It gives you a behind-the-scenes look of colorful Chinatown. The tour covers history, traditions of the local people and culture that you probably wouldn’t know or see by travelling alone.

You can go alone to attractions or take a guided tour. It’s your choice and you can choose whichever would give you the most memorable experience.     5    

10 . Are you anxious about how to spend your holiday with your kids effectively? Are you at a loss due to not knowing how to stimulate your kids’ interest? Now just satisfy your teens’ desire for the unusual in Bristol with shopping and attractive art.

While it can be tough to persuade some teens to embrace art, you’ll find it easier in Bristol. You won’t have to rack your brains (绞尽脑汁) to encounter the handiwork of the city’s famous one, because there are more than 200-odd street artists in the city where The Wall offers a two-hour tour of the must-see works and Bristol’s 30 years of graffiti history. There are spray-painting workshops too, if your teens want to give it a shot.

If all that graffiti leads to a new-found interest in art, then the next step is Wake The Tiger, a new art experience. Through mysterious creative works, hidden forests and secret passageways, you and your family will enter the magic world. It’s perfect for teen fantasy fans.

Remember Skins? The 00s drama was a hit with teens for its realistic plot, and now a new one is discovering it on Netflix. Much of the show was filmed in Bristol and the Bristol Film Office has put together a map of all of the key locations. Visit Bristol and the Bristol Film Office have also mapped other hit shows, including Sherlock and Doctor Who.

If your teens are keen to develop their vintage (复古的) rock style, take them to Park Street to discover the vintage shops, including Uncle Sam’s Vintage, perfect for everything from American varsity (校队的) jackets to Levi’s jeans, as well as The Vintage Thrift Store, Loot Vintage and Sobeys.