1 . Scandinavian architecture is a relatively new construct that drew public attention within the last century. It tends to include works associated with Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland, and it is undoubtedly one of the more influential styles in modern times.

The Scandinavian design style is both simple and comfortable, modern and historic. Home builders influenced by this style are expert at mixing traditional vernacular (民间风俗的) styles with modern technology to create a space that is beautiful and aims to make your life better.

Before the early 20th century, much of Scandinavian architecture was vernacular in nature. Homes were built in a simple way using locally sourced materials and knowledge. However, it can be argued that this lack of formal architectural schooling promoted more craftsmanship and creativity as time went on. These vernacular builders were more concerned with function than form. An early example of this is the turf houses in Iceland, which were homes with green roofs that could keep the house in comfortable temperature throughout seasons in an affordable way.

The modern-day version of Scandinavian architecture grew out of this grassroots approach to building. Public buildings originally mixed Neoclassical elements with traditional building styles based on local practices. In the 1930s, the concept of Functionalism was introduced in Scandinavia. With its inspiration, architects wanted the buildings to be simple, but they also wanted them to be beneficial to people in some thoughtful way. For instance, the Paimio Sanatorium that was built in 1933 focused on maximizing quality air and light for tuberculosis (结核病) patients. So while modern architecture is all about simple, clean lines, Scandinavian architecture is that and also a style of building that thinks about how public spaces and homes can be valuable to humankind.

The school holidays are drawing to near. I feel very exciting at the thought that I am going to visit America in the holidays. It’s the first time for me to travel abroad on my own, so I need your helping.

I’d like to visit some areas of scenic beauty, such for mountains, rivers or forests, which I could enjoy the beauty of nature. Could you suggest several place for me to visit? Beside, I prefer to live in peace and I hoped the traffic isn’t too heavy. Perhaps you could help me book hotel.

I’m expecting to hear from you, and I’m looking forward to meet you in America.

Yours,

Lihua

3 . A group trip is much more different from what one might expect with an organized tour or a solo holiday. It’s special both in its form and the unique experience it offers.     1     .

Going on holiday with a group of friends is all about having fun, creating memories and trying a new experience with a shared interest to travel. It means being inside jokes, great stories and plenty of laughs.     2    . Whether you decide to go in a large group of up to 10 people or more or go in a much smaller group of 4, group trips are a great way to bond and reconnect with one another. Besides, it doesn’t have to be a constant activity. It can happen periodically, perhaps once or twice a year.     3    , but the result will be satisfying. Choose a popularly known destination or an unknown destination.     4    . You will experience new or familiar destinations with close friends. This will give group members an idea of what they can expect for the next group trip.

The purpose of the group trip, for some, may be to escape from the city or their current busy schedules. For others, it may be to catch up with friends over a period of time.     5    , the main idea is that as a group they will be able to link their trip to the memories created.

4 . WHERE TO STAY IN BOSWELL?

TOUR GUIDE TO OUR BEST HOTELS

7 . You should see the photo. I’m sitting in red dirt, ________ an ugly purple T-shirt. My face is pink and my hair is wet with sweat. Flies buzz around my head. I’m in the northwest of Australia, on a school trip with 20 parents and 20 kids.

It was a strange choice for a holiday. I like sitting by the pool with a cola, not flies and frogs. I like being ________ and quiet, not a busload of kids. I like ________ washed sheets, not dirty-looking blankets.

But here’s the thing about that photo: I am smiling!

The trip sounded good when I ________. We were told that guides would take us into the heart of the place and I would see a new part of Australia and learn about local ________. Besides I knew it would be a valuable chance for me to stay with my youngest daughter. I would also stay with 40 strangers. I just hope there would be good coffee.

In Darwin we got onto a bus. It quickly became tiresome. The kids were ________ and kept on talking but I hate making small talk.

But later when I looked out at the large empty land, I was surprised at and moved by its ________. Our local guide told us about the land and his culture. I felt far from home.

Finally we reached our ________. There the small room I shared with my daughter was a brick cell, full of crickets (蟋蟀), but too dark to see them.

It didn’t matter. The next nine days were ________. Waterfalls, lakes, community visits, and a trip around Katherine Gorge where we even saw giant crocodiles!

On our last night, a water pipe (管子) ________. We awoke to a mess, everything in water. Usually I would have ________, but it just seemed ________ to be dirty.

Indeed, it was ________ to stay clean. We were hiking in red dirt with temperatures of 35 degrees. Still, I felt a kind of energy I hadn’t ________ in years.

Yes, the coffee was bad, but I was too focused on keeping crickets off my face.

I love that photo of me in the dirt. I look messy but happy. Sometimes it’s another way of traveling. There is beautiful ________ and there is dirt. There was always someone to talk to, someone to laugh with.

8 . Qibao Ancient Village

Qibao, located in the center of Minhang District, Shanghai, is a village with a history of one thousand years. In the village, wine and tea are served on old-fashioned square tables together with long benches, long-mouth copper pots and flat-end chopstick used. The most famous snacks in old Shanghai are square pastry, rice wine and steamed salted pork in wine.

Telephone: 021-21087225

Entrance Ticket: 45 yuan per all-in-one ticket (preferable price of 30 yuan is available now), covering almost all tourist attractions inside the village.

Jinshan Village of Farmer Painting

Villagers skillfully make good use of folk arts such as printing and dyeing, embroidery (刺绣), wood carving. They take the various folk customs and the busy scenes of labor of villagers in the lower Changjiang valley as the theme of paintings and create farmer paintings in a simple style.

Telephone: 021-57355555

Entrance Ticket: 30 yuan/person

Merry Countryside Tour in Zhonghua Village

The village provides tourists with accommodations, tours, chess, cards, fitness and entertainment through renting out separate farmhouse and sells tourist products and agricultural by-products related to the merry countryside tour.

Telephone: 021-57395433

Entrance Ticket: Free

Pudong Lingkong Agric Gardening

It is one of Shanghai countryside tour scenic spots, which features art of teapots, crop plantation and export. The Geological Science Popularization Hall stores up tens of thousands of rare stones collected all over the world.

Telephone: 021-33935557

Entrance Ticket: 50 yuan /person

10 . As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica, she found herself greeted by a group of little Gentoo penguins (企鹅) longing to say hello. These gentle, lovely gatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni would never forget.

Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71, has had a deep love for travel. Throughout her career (职业) as a professional dancer, she toured in the UK, but always longed to explore further. When she retired from dancing and her sons eventually flew the nest, she decided it was time to take the plunge.

After taking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts, Ginni began to travel the world, eventually getting work teaching English in Japan and Chile. And it was in Chile she discovered she could get last-minute cheap deals on ships going to Antarctica from the islands off Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the South American mainland. “I just decided I wanted to go,” she says. “I had no idea about what I’d find there and I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted to do it. And I wanted to do it alone as I always prefer it that way.”

In March 2008, Ginni boarded a ship with 48 passengers she’d never met before, to begin the journey towards Antarctica. “From seeing the wildlife to witnessing sunrises, the whole experience was amazing. Antarctica left an impression on me that no other place has,” Ginni says. “I remember the first time I saw a humpback whale; it just rose out of the water like some prehistoric creature and I thought it was smiling at us. You could still hear the operatic sounds it was making underwater.”

The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected by humans, was one of the biggest things that hit home to Ginni.