2 . 4 Most walkable cities in Europe

Seville, Spain

Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top four tourist attractions.Visitors 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.

Venice, Italy

Venice is well-known as a heaven for pedestrians (行人), so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. There are endless alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of beautiful bridges over the crisscrossing 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, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, Basilica and bell tower, all in only 1.3 miles.

Porto, Portugal

Nestled along Portugal’s picturesque coast, Porto comes in third with its top attractions all covered by a 30-minute walking route. Meander along the Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River, head to the Clérigos Church Bell Tower and enjoy a riverfront walking place along the Cais da Ribeira. The Stock Exchange Palace is also just a short walk away.

Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy, secures its place as the fourth most walkable city in Europe thanks to its stunning attractions that can be seamlessly explored on foot. A 1.6 mile route covers the awe-inspiring Piazzale Michelangelo; the famous Uffizi Gallery; the Piazza del Duomo where you will be amazed at the magnificent Florence Cathedral; and the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of David.

1. How long is probably the walking route in Seville?

A．1.1 miles.

B．1.3 meters.

C．1.6 meters.

D．1.8 meters.

2. Which city is probably located near the sea?

A．Seville.

B．Venice.

C．Porto.

D．Florence.

3. What is the writing purpose of the text?

A．To compare the four cities.

B．To show the benefits of walking.

C．To stress the importance of traveling.

D．To attract visitors to walk in these cities.

4 . Courage takes many forms and, consequently, can be difficult to define. But it would be impossible to describe Xia Boyu's heroic acts without using that word.

On May 14, 2018, he reached the world's highest summit from the south side in Nepal, at an age when most people are taking life easy. He blinked on the summit, wondering whether it really happened or if it was just a dream. He then realized that his years of effort had paid off, and he instantly called his wife with the news, bursting into tears.

That could be considered an achievement in itself, but this was his fifth attempt. About four decades, he lost his lower legs to frostbite trying to conquer the 8,848.86-meter-high peak on his first attempt. He is the first Chinese climber without legs to conquer the mountain. He reached the summit at the age of 69.

"When I finally made it to the peak, I was not as excited as I imagined. I was absolutely knackered, both cold and lacking oxygen, sitting in the snow. I was too tired to speak or move," Xia says with an lovely touch of modesty.

As well as the physical challenge of any attempt on the summit, there are also financial considerations. It costs about 500,000 yuan to climb Qomolangma. When he resolved to challenge the summit again in 2008, he sold his apartment in Beijing to cover the expenses.

He is grateful for the unconditional support from his wife and son, "My wife always understood my dream. All these years, I've devoted myself to my dream and had less time to deal with family affairs." Xia says.

His wife, Ma Yi, says in an interview: "His thought process is a simple one, and he has a preoccupation (执着) with climbing. He's doing his best to fulfill an ideal. How could I prevent him from doing it?"

1. How did Xia Boyu feel as he finally reached the summit?

A．Shocked.

B．Relieved.

C．Curious.

D．Incredible.

2. What does the underlined word "knackered" mean in paragraph 4?

A．Disappointed.

B．Exhausted.

C．Depressed.

D．Frightened.

3. What does Xia owe his own success to?

A．His physical disabilities.	B．His financial conditions.
C．His family's support.	D．His climbing experience

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．A Couple in Love	B．The Height of Courage
C．The Unconquerable Summit	D．An Adventure to Qomolangma