1 . 3 Most Walkable Cities in Europe
Walking on holiday is a great way to stay fit, but also to see the sights a city has to offer. Here are the three most walkable cities in Europe.
Athens, Greece
Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. The capital of Greece ranks fifth, with a slightly longer—but very worthwhile—route of 2.1 miles between its top-rated tourist attractions.
Visitors to Athens can set off at the Acropolis, climbing to discover the ancient Parthenon that stands as a landmark to the city’s ancient legacy. Then it leads to the Acropolis Museum, with the neighbourhood of Plaka waiting to be explored in the shadow of the Acropolis. The National Archaeological Museum is also close-by.
Seville, Spain
Seville is home to some wonderful sights that are best seen when walking. Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top five tourist attractions.
Visitors to this charming Spanish city can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood and admire the Torre Giralda bell tower hanging above. With just 20 minutes of walking between these attractions.
Venice, Italy
Venice is famous for walkers, so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. Walking is the best way to explore the bridges over the canals the city is famed for. There are endless charming alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of bridges over the canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal.
1. What’s the recommended starting point of the city walk in Athens?| A．Plaka. |
| B．The Acropolis. |
| C．The Acropolis Museum. |
| D．The National Archaeological Museum . |
| A．It offers some wonderful sights. |
| B．Visitors can explore five tourist attractions. |
| C．It makes visitors enjoy their time to the full. |
| D．Visitors can tour five tourist attractions in the shortest walking distance. |
| A．Those who are hiking during the vacation. |
| B．Those who want to find suggestions on where to travel. |
| C．Those who are looking for the best traveling destinations. |
| D．Those who usually choose walkable cities for their vacation. |
SEEING THE TRUE NORTH VIA RAIL：
TORONTO AND MONTREAL
After Li Daiyu and her cousin arrived in Toronto, the largest and wealthiest city in Canada, they only had a few hours to kill before they had to proceed to the next leg of their trip to Montreal, so they went on a tour of the city. They went up the CN Tower and looked across the shores of Lake Ontario. Standing in the distance, they were astonished to see misty clouds rising from the great Niagara Falls, which is on the south side of the lake.Water from the lake flows into the Niagara River and over the falls on its way to the sea.
The girls saw hundreds of skyscrapers of glass and steel, and oldfashioned cars rolling by. As they walked north from the harbour area, Li Daiyu said, “Lin Fei, one of my mother’s old schoolmates, lives here. I should phone her and see if she’s available for dinner.”
They met Lin Fei around dusk over dinner at a restaurant in downtown Chinatown. The cousins chatted with Lin Fei, who had moved to Canada many years earlier.
“This is the largest Chinatown in Toronto. We have a few more in the Greater Toronto Area, so you can guess that there are a lot of Chinese people in Canada! Chinese people have been coming here for more than a hundred years. Therefore, we can get all kinds of great food here from all over China,” Lin Fei told them.
The train left late that night and arrived in Montreal early the next morning. At the station, in contrast to Toronto, they heard people talking in French. They were surprised to see that all the signs and advertisements were in French and many people spoke English with an accent.
“We don’t leave until this evening,” said Liu Qian. “Let’s go downtown. Old Montreal is close to the water.”
They spent the afternoon in lovely shops and visiting artists in their workplaces along St Paul Street. As they sat in a restaurant alongside the broad St Lawrence River, a young man sat down with them.
“Hello, my name is JeanPhilippe. I’m a photographer,” he said, “and I was wondering where you are from.”
The girls told him they were from China and were on a train trip across Canada. When they told him they had only one day in Montreal, he said, “That’s too bad. You owe it to yourselves to stay longer. Overall, Montreal is a city with wonderful sights and sounds. Most of us speak both English and French, and the city has unique Quebec culture and traditions. There are fantastic restaurants and clubs around, too. Here, we love good coffee, toast, and cheese. And good music, of course!”
That night the train was speeding along the St Lawrence River towards the Gulf of St Lawrence and down to the distant east coast towards the province of Nova Scotia and its largest city, Halifax. The cousins dreamt happily of the beautiful cobblestone streets, old brick buildings, and the red maple leaves of Montreal.
1. What surprised Li Daiyu and her cousin in Montreal?| A．People there spoke Chinese. |
| B．Many spoke French with an accent. |
| C．There were many Chinatowns there. |
| D．All the signs and advertisements were in French. |
| A．He felt excited. | B．He felt satisfied. |
| C．He felt it a pity. | D．He felt it an honor. |
| A．Montreal has few high buildings. |
| B．Montreal has some ancient buildings. |
| C．Montreal is a modern agricultural city. |
| D．Montreal is situated on the St Lawrence River. |
3 . Enjoy Fresh Air
Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan
Architects creating Namba Parks shopping mall in Osaka showed that you needn’t sacrifice (牺牲) green spaces for commercial (商业的) development.
The shopping center, built in 2003, provides eight floors of commercial space for cinemas, stores, events and restaurants.
The garden at its top begins at street level. Visitors are treated to green spaces and there is no money necessary to enjoy the simple pleasures.
Promenade Plantee, Paris, France
The space was developed on a disused railway line and runs from the Opera Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes in the city.
Around 1.5 km of the park is higher than the street, with other parts at street level, even passing through disused railway tunnels (隧道).
The project began in 1988 and finished in 1994 and the space is now home to many trees and plants, including bamboo and cherry trees.
Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore, Singapore
Jurong Lake Gardens is a 90-hectare green space in the heart of Singapore. Although some areas are still under development, the first part opened in 2019.
The gardens were developed with nature and community in mind — with a large 2.3-hectare play area for children. The park has also developed a learning program to help educate students about biodiversity (生物多样性).
The High Line, New York, USA
You’ve probably heard of Central Park in New York. But did you know this is only the fifth largest park in New York, a city that has 180 state parks in total?
Wanting to increase its biodiversity further, city planners also created a city park known as the High Line between 2009 and 2019. This 2-kilometer public park was built on a disused railway line and is now home to over 150,000 plants and trees.
1. Why is Namba Parks special?| A．It serves as a shopping center. | B．It is still under development. |
| C．It is the fifth largest park in Japan. | D．It includes different parks in Osaka. |
| A．They were created by architects from Singapore. |
| B．They are famous for learning programs. |
| C．They were private gardens at first. |
| D．They are ‘on old railway lines. |
| A．Namba Parks. | B．Promenade Plantee. |
| C．Jurong Lake Gardens | D．The High Line. |
DUBAI — Dubai has retained its leading position in the MENA (中东和北非) region on Kearney’s Global Cities Index, ranking 23rd globally and
According to the report, prominent emerging venues around the world,
(Situation: One day Linda and George are talking about visiting Europe.)
Linda: Hello, George. What are you doing?
George: Hi, Linda.
Linda: Are you thinking of visiting Europe some day?
George: Yes, I’m looking to such a trip. Hey,
Linda: Yes. I’ve actually visited my countries in Europe; France, Germany, Italy and Austria, for example.
George: When did you go there? And
Linda: Two years ago. For over one month.
George: Did you like it?
Linda: Of course. There are many ancient churches and castles.
George: Sounds great. I decide to make a trip next October on my annual leave.
Linda:
6 . The California State Railroad Museum (CSRM) is in Old Sacramento. It was completed at a cost of $16.1 million, and the museum opened in May 1981. It houses 21 old locomotives (火车头) and cars. Here, visitors can learn a lot about railroad history in California and the West in America.
Hours & Tickets
The museum is open from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. daily (except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Tickets are sold until 4:30 p. m. $12 adults; $6 students; children aged 5 and under are free.
Parking
A small number of parking spaces are on the streets of Old Sacramento. However, these spaces are not for guests visiting longer than 90 minutes. All-day parking is in large public garages at both ends of Old Sacramento.
Food Service
The Silver Palace Restaurant serves good food at the right prices. It is just one block southwest of the main entrance to the museum.
1. What can we learn about CSRM?| A．It has a history of 154 years. | B．It has some old locomotives. |
| C．It is open for 8 hours every day. | D．It cost up to $ 15 million to build it. |
| A．$12 | B．$24 | C．$30 | D．$36 |
| A．In the underground parking garages of the museum. |
| B．Anywhere along the streets of Old Sacramento. |
| C．On the parking spaces in front of the museum. |
| D．Somewhere at both ends of Old Sacramento. |
| A．is worth visiting | B．is far from the museum |
| C．is famous for its expensive food | D．is the best one in Old Sacramento |
| A．book review | B．research paper | C．travel magazine | D．newspaper report |
BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS
Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence on its people and traditions. The country has a long history of producing great writers and poets. Its beautiful countryside excites and inspires all, offering something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald Isle” and its many green counties is a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions that include music, dancing, and dining. To have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you’re lucky, you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce yourself to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs firsthand.
1. Why has Ireland produced many great writers and poets?| A．The people there are all good at writing. |
| B．The beautiful countryside gives them inspiration. |
| C．The modern industry makes them free from labor (劳动). |
| D．The education system there is advanced. |
| A．songs | B．dancing | C．food | D．all the above |
| A．the song of the birds | B．the roar of the ocean waves |
| C．the cries of the seabirds | D．the traditional music played everywhere |
| A．A local museum | B．A small town | C．A village pub | D．A small studio |
8 . Literary cities for book lovers to visit in the UK
The UK claims a rich literary heritage, with cities packed with bookshops, literary landmarks and cafes. If you love books, try one of these city breaks.
1. York
Earning a amazing “bookspiration” score of 9.4/10, York has claimed the title of the best UK city for book lovers. Claiming the highest number of reading spots per100,000 people among all cities analyzed, York makes the literary lovers find it a best choice.
Top reading spot: Museum Gardens
2. Bath
Bath comes second, receiving a final “bookspiration” score of 8. 1/10.
Beyond its lots of quiet reading spots (more than 7 libraries and 16 bookshops per 100,000 people), the city offers enough green spaces, perfect for readers. A dream place for those who are fond of Jane Austen, it hosts the Jane Austen Festival in September every year, featuring a series ofexperiences and leaving deep impression.
Top reading spot: Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights
3. Belfast
In third place is Belfast, scoring 7.3/10. The Northern Irish city boasts 18 libraries and 55 charming bookshops to choose from. With an average Google rating of 4.71/5 — the highest of all cities analyzed, Belfast also has a increasing bookish culture as it plays host to an book festival attracting the nation’s biggest bookworms.
Top reading spot: Cave Hill
4. Bristol
Known as the hipster (潮人) capital of the UK, Bristol (6.8/10) secures fourth place to be a literary lover’s paradise. With bookshops from independent to second-hand (over 17 bookshops per 100,000 people), the lively South West city makes a perfect place for book-shopping.
Top reading spot: Hatter House Café
1. What is Bath special for?| A．Being a noisy place for book lovers. |
| B．Receiving the lowest score of the four. |
| C．Holding a festival for Jane Austen yearly. |
| D．Offering enough reading spaces for readers. |
| A．Museum Gardens. | B．Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights. |
| C．Cave Hill. | D．Hatter House Cafe. |
| A．In a travel guide. | B．In a history book. |
| C．In a news report. | D．In an art magazine. |
(Situation: Steven and Daniel go to visit the wildlife park. Steven tells Daniel some interesting things about the wildlife park. )
Steven: Daniel, have you ever heard about the wildlife park?
Daniel:
Steven: Yes, of course.
Daniel:
Steven: There are a lot of wild animals, and also some special rules while visiting.
Daniel: Special rules?
Steven:
Daniel: Details?
Steven: On their bus or in your own cars, and you won’t be allowed to get off the bus until you reach the special region.
Daniel: Why not?
Steven:
Daniel: That makes sense. But that sounds interesting.
Steven: Yes.
Daniel: I prefer to go there next time.
Steven: You won’t be disappointed.
A. Is there one in Beijing?
B. So tell me something about it!
C. There, you only have two ways for visiting.
D. Is that different from the ordinary kind of zoo?
E. Because it is dangerous to get out of the car or bus.
F. I wish I could join you.
G. It is mainly about some social activities to protect animals.
Tom: Uncle Ben, how did the Forbidden City get this name?
Uncle Ben: Well, in the past, emperors had supreme power, so his residence was certainly a forbidden palace.
Tom: His residence?
Uncle Ben: Yes. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern part was for the emperor to exercise his power over the nation, and the northern part was for his family.
Tom: Oh, unbelievable. This was too luxurious.
Uncle Ben: Even the whole country belonged to him.
Tom: OK, then.I love these unique towers with the fine carvings on them. It’s really artistic.
Uncle Ben: Yeah, the buildings and designs of the Forbidden City are the peak of Chinese traditional architecture, not only scientific but also suitable for living.
Tom: I agree.
Uncle Ben: Some of them are mascots and some are symbols of power.
Tom:
Uncle Ben: Oh, no.In fact, yellow is the symbol of the royal family.
Tom: Just like the pattern dragon, right?
Uncle Ben: Exactly.Here is the Ninedragon Screen.
Tom: Oh, it’s really beautiful.
Uncle Ben: Sure, this will be a really good picture.
A. You mean the whole palace?
B. I want to take a picture here.
C. It’s certainly a product of wisdom.
D. That’s why he is called the emperor.
E. Why are there so many yellow things?
F. What you are going to visit?
G. I want to buy something about the Forbidden City.
