On March 31, the Eiffel Tower celebrated its 130th anniversary since it opened.     1    (original) planned to last only 20 years, the people of Paris wisely decided to keep it standing,    2     (recognize) its importance. Millions of people     3     (visit) the tower so far, according to its official website.

The tower was created by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel and was first intended as the main entrance     4     the 1889 World’s Fair. It was built in a little over two years and faced criticism from some locals initially. However, it quickly captured the attention of fair visitors, attracting more than two million people. It also had a     5     (practice) use as a radio antenna during World War I.

Visitors today can choose to climb 1,665 steps or take one of the original elevator cars    6     (reach) the top. At the top of the tower,     7     the tower’s administrative office is located, guests can enjoy a drink at the champagne bar on the top floor.

Today, the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of France, representing a feeling of pride and thankfulness. It is a global icon that can bring together people from different     8    (background). The tower is not only     9     popular tourist destination but also a widely recognized symbol, a     10     (believe) held by many who appreciate its enduring charm.

5 . There are some palaces in Europe that you may be interested to know about.

It takes the title of the largest European palace by floor area and it is one of the largest palaces in the world. The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in the 18th century by order of Philip V on the site of the old Alcázar fortress, a former Moorish castle. With over 135,000 square metres and 3,418 rooms, it has seeded centuries of Spanish history. It is one of the few official seats of a head of state that is open to the public.

It is a historic and the most wonderful building in Brussels, Belgium, next to Brussels Park. The Royal Palace of Brussels is the King’s main workplace, where he works daily with his staff. A tradition has been established since 1965 to open the Royal Palace of Brussels to the public normally from the 21 July until the beginning of September.

It is the most popular attraction in Sintra, Portugal, and the main reason why so many people visit the small mountain town less than one hour’s drive from the country’s capital city, Lisbon. The colorful palace perched upon a hill looks like something out of a fairy tale. Its yellow and bright red appearance makes Pena Palace one of the most picturesque places in Europe. The UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site has a rich history that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.

It is a former royal living places and gardens located in Venaria Reale, near Turin in the Metropolitan City of Turin of the Piedmont region in northern Italy. It is one of the largest palaces in the world. It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

7 . Many of us develop a desire to travel. ________, few are lucky enough to turn that desire into a ________ career. For Trish Sare, owner of Vancouver-based Bike Hike Adventures Inc., it was a ________ story.

“I left home when I was 20 with a ________ of traveling the world for five years,” recalls Sare. “During that period, I spent a lot of time meeting adventure companies abroad and taking part in some of their adventures. Upon returning, I studied ________ and fitness leadership. Then, when we had to do our field placement (实习), I ________ a tour agency. When they heard about my experience, they asked if I wanted to go to Costa Rica for my placement and ________ as a tour leader. And that is where it all began.”

That beginning marked the accomplishment of a ________ dream for Sare. Today, she can ________ those exciting memories from such places as Thailand, Nepal, Costa Rica and more. Although Sare followed her dream of traveling for many years, she began ________ something that offered just a little bit more. So, in 2014, she took the big ________ of starting her own company: Bike Hike Adventures Inc.

Her career has ________ her all over the world to interact with people of so many different cultures and backgrounds. Looking back, Sare can ________ say that it’s been the right choice for her. Here’s her ________ for those wanting a similar path: “Do some traveling ________ your own first and then you’ll be marketable to companies,” she concludes.

8 . Afternoon tea, the most typical of English customs, is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new tradition. The custom of drinking tea became popular in England during the 1660s thanks to King Charles Ⅱ and his wife, and it was not until the mid-19th century that the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared.

Afternoon tea was introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. At that time lunch was taken early but the evening meal was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, leaving a long period of time between the two meals. The Duchess would become hungry in the afternoon, so she asked that tea and cake be brought to her room around four o'clock. This became a habit of hers and later she began inviting friends to join her.

This palace tea party was such a success that it soon spread to London and other places in UK as a fashionable social event. During the 1880’s, upper-class women would dress up for their afternoon tea, also known as “low tea” because tea was taken while seating in low, comfortable chairs or sofas.

While Low Tea was largely a game for the upper class, “high tea” was a necessary meal for working class families. During the second half of the Victorian Period, working families would return home late tired and exhausted. As the most important meal of the day, the table would be set with meats, bread, butter, cheese and of course, a pot of good, strong tea to lift their spirits. Because it was eaten at a high, dining table, it was called “high” tea.

To experience the best of the afternoon tea tradition, treat yourself with a trip to one of London’s finest hotels. There are also a wide selection of old-fashioned tearooms offering afternoon tea experience.

We provide very British afternoon tea experience trips during your stay in London. Just tell your tour guide when you want to taste the culture and we will arrange everything for you with a very reasonable charge. It’ll be a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t miss it.