If you only had an afternoon to experience London on a grand     1    , the Houses of Parliament, also called Palace of Westminster would be a wise place to start. The     2     of the bicameral (两院制的) Parliament including the House of Commons and the House of Lords, is located on the left bank of the River Thames in the borough of Westminster, London.

A royal palace was said to have existed at the site under the Danish king of England Canute. The building, however, spoken of by William Fitzstephen as a(n) “    3     structure,” was built for Edward the Confessor in the 11th century and     4     by William I (the Conqueror). In 1512 the palace suffered greatly from fire and thereafter ceased to be used as a royal residence. A fire in 1834 destroyed the whole palace except the historic Westminster Hall, the Jewel Tower, the cloisters, and the crypt of St. Stephen’s Chapel.

Sir Charles Barry, assisted by A.W.N. Pugin, designed the present buildings in the Gothic Revival style. Construction was begun in 1837, the cornerstone was     5     in 1840, and work was finished in 1860. The Commons Chamber was burned out in one of the numerous air raids that targeted London during World War II, but it was     6     and reopened in 1950. The House of Lords is an ornate chamber 97 feet in length; the Commons is 70 feet long. The southwestern Victoria Tower is 336 feet high. The Elizabeth Tower,     7     St. Stephen’s Tower, about 320 feet in height, contains the famous tower clock Big Ben. Along with Westminster Abbey and St, Margaret’s Church, the Houses of Parliament were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, as symbols of spiritual and democratic     8    .

The Palace is one of the centers of political life in the United Kingdom; “Westminster” has become a metaphor for the UK Parliament and the British Government. The Elizabeth Tower, in particular, often     9     to by the name of its main bell, Big Ben, has become an iconic landmark of London and of the United Kingdom in general, one of the most     10     tourist attractions in the city, and a symbol of parliamentary democracy.

3 . Education: Peking University to open branch in Oxford

Peking University will be the first Chinese university to open an oversea branch in Oxford next year.

According to Peking University, its HSBC Business School has got a campus in Oxford from the Open University in Britain. This purchase comes as the government steps up efforts to build globally famous universities that will lead the world in teaching and research.

People: Chinese Cambridge student shares his experience

From a struggling student to attending one of the most famous universities, Han Zhenyu’s hard work seems to have paid off. Recently, Han shared his experience with students and their parents in his home city of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The 21-year-old student is now in his third year majoring in mathematics at Cambridge University, one of the top colleges in the world. Using his experience, he is helping seven other Chinese students to follow in his footsteps.

Society: Quake-hit areas given a new life

Visitors to Qinglongchang village in Longmen township in Lushan, a county in Sichuan Province, will be able to appreciate the new houses built for the residents following reconstruction work after an earthquake, which broke out on April 20, 2013. With the backing of governments at different levels, 232 centralized resettlement areas with brand-new houses were built for farmers within three years of the quake.

As I stepped off the airplane, my adventure (历险) in the UK began.

The first time I     1     (hear) I could go to this country on a study tour, I knew I was qualified (合格的) enough. I’m outgoing and like to communicate with others in English. Meanwhile, my independence makes     2     easy for me to adapt to (适应) new environments. In my daily life, I always take part in various activities to improve my social skills, which I believe play an important role in     3     (deal) with problems in a foreign country.

I really had a good time in the UK, as I thought I would.     4     impressed me most was the English classes we took. The teachers always created an atmosphere (气氛)     5     we could voice our opinions freely. The activities in class equipped me with a vast range of knowledge about the English language, as well as the customs in the UK.

This country, which is famous     6     its beautiful scenery, attracts tourists from all corners of the world every year. During the trip, we paid a visit to many famous tourist destinations, such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye.

Besides from these popular spots, we found ourselves walking among nature every day, with the sun shining all the way     7     midnight, and     8     variety of beautiful flowers blooming (开放) in green fields.

Not only was I able     9     (create) new friendships on this tour, but it also highlighted (点亮) ordinary school life in China. Thanks to the 20 days I spent in the UK, my     10     (speak) English improved, and I got a better understanding of British culture.

Touring “Treasure Island”

Chinese mainland tourists will be able to visit Taiwan via charted flights in July according to two landmark agreements signed on June 13. So, 21^st Century invited two young Taiwanese to     1     their favorite site on the island.

Yangming Mountain, north of Taipei

Young couples can definitely enjoy a     2     evening on the mountain and a bird’s eye view of the Taipei city. College students often visit the mountain for a     3    : others ride motorbike to the top. The mountain and the nearby town of Pei-tou have many hot springs, which often appear in romantic Taiwan TV dramas.

Ali Mountain, Jiayi County

Ali Mountain is the general name for 18 hills. The highest     4     of Ali Mountain is Tower Hill, which has a height of 2,663 meters. Ali Mountain is famous for its “five rare sites” - the sunrise, the Ali mountain Forest Railway, the famous Alishan Sacred Tree, the Grand Sea of Clouds and the Flamboyant Cherry Blossom. The best time to visit the     5     scenery is during the comfortable midsummer.

Taipei 101 tower, Taipei

The 101-floor landmark is one of the world’s tallest completed skyscrapers. Besides the shops inside and outside the tower, Taipei 101     6     splendid firework shows during festivals. A new     7     next to the tower is under construction. It will be a     8     beach on which the public will be permitted to     9    .

Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei

The squares in front of these halls are open all day to the public. They have become a paradise to colleges students, who often meet there for an activity that     10     space. You will run into students dancing, rehearsing skits or even playing musical instruments.