1 . What a Scoop! Readers’ Favorite Ice-Cream Shops
From pear and cheese in Edinburgh to pomegranate ripple at Ventor, our reporters show off the coolest licks.
Mary’s Milk Bar in the Grassmarket is popular with locals and visitors, and is the perfect pit stop for people dashing between fringe festival shows. Flavors change every day, with pear and cheese among the regulars. You can grab your ice and walk up the Vennel Steps for breathtaking views of Edinburgh castle.
Aisha
“Che buono! The best gelato (ice cream) outside Naples!” exclaimed my son’s Italian girlfriend on her first visit to Delphini’s. Giovanni grinned and gave her an extra, free scoop. Every day there’s a queue outside this shop in this progressive south Devon town. Delphini’s gelato is made out of organic local milk and cream. What’s more, it is dairy-free, making it a good option for vegans in Totnes. Flavors change daily and they do free tasting.
Kate
Shepherds Ice Cream Shop in Abergavenny is a Wes Anderson-styled drop-in. It’s all made locally from goat-milk, the business is run by two generations of a family that has some sort of tradition around a golden scoop. Shepherds often pop up with a vintage ice-cream trailer at festivals and events around the UK. It’s my family’s year-round Friday treat.
Alexia Tucker
Crave Ices at Ventnor invents new flavors constantly. Always over 20 choices, plenty of sweet, creamy ones, but also salty, alcoholic and non-dairy delights. Recent highlights include pomegranate ripple, whisky marmalade (over-18s only!). Once I mentioned a flavor I’d enjoyed the previous year. They made some especially for me so I could have it again before I left for home.
Lucy Marder
1. What are the similarities between Mary’s Milk Bar and Delphini’s?| A．They both serve milk-free ice cream. |
| B．They offer customers a taste for free. |
| C．They update the menu of ice cream on a daily basis. |
| D．They set up a great many mobile stands at festivals. |
| A．It is a family-run business with a unique tradition. |
| B．It’s a must-visit shop for vegetarians. |
| C．It offers customers lots of choices. |
| D．It attaches great importance to customers’ feedbacks. |
| A．At Mary’s Milk Bar. | B．At Delphini’s. |
| C．At Shepherds Ice Cream Shop. | D．At Crave Ices. |
2 . Slowly but surely, offices are beginning to reopen. That means, the work-from-home lifestyle may be coming to a close. Why not spice it up a bit for this last stretch of flexible living and book a killer vacation rental? Here are 4 rentals perfect for you.
San Antonio, Texas
Head deep into the heart of Texas for an enjoyable work-from-home experience at this 3-bedroom Lavaca cottage. And you’ll find a fully private backyard that is perfect for the little ones. The house on its own is excellent, but what is close to downtown San Antonia is like a cherry on top.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Set out for beautiful California and book this beach retreat. You’ll have both the beach and town within walking distance. Charming Carmel has world-class restaurants, art galleries and wine tasting rooms. The beloved treat shop is sure to get your kids on their best behavior!
Scottsdale, Arizona
With over 300 days of sunshine and boundless outdoor activities, Arizona is an outdoor heaven for all ages. Book this massive 5-bedroom desert house, and spend days hiking. Then cool off back at home in your private pool overlooking the mountains. If you’re working from home, you can soak in some pretty evenings and desert sunsets. When you’re not enjoying a barbecue in the backyard, walk into Scottsdale’s modern downtown district for dinner.
The Catskills, New York
Surround yourself with nature while you work-from-home at this quiet and private, 4-acre red cottage in the Catskills region. The charming 2-bedroom house has a huge industrial kitchen, private hot tub and a barbecue. When you have to go back to civilization, the lovable mountain town of Woodstock is just 10 minutes away.
1. Which of the following best suits people who are art lovers?| A．San Antonio. | B．Carmel-by-the-Sea. | C．Scottsdale. | D．The Catskills. |
| A．It is a good place for outdoor sports. | B．It has few sunny days. |
| C．It has wine tasting rooms. | D．It is a lovable seaside town. |
| A．They have a private backyard. | B．They are close to the beach. |
| C．They provide a barbecue. | D．They are near the town or downtown. |
3 . Certainly, India is popular in the world for its cultures. It has some museums that are worth visiting.
International Doll Museum
Yes, the museum is claimed to be the best museum in the eyes of its audience in the country. For the popularity, every Indian kid wants to visit it at least once in his/her lifetime. Sure, there are so many collections of the doll from traditional to modern ones. I also displays typical dolls from various cultures worldwide. It opens every day except Monday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Paldi Kite Museum
Have you ever played a kite in your childhood? Kites are more than just toys to play with. They are pieces of art that motivate people to conduct competitions. Hundreds of kites with unique designs and various shapes are displayed in the museum. Besides, visitors can also learn about techniques to fly them. The museum opens 6 days a week and it is closed every Monday. The operational hour is from 10 am to 6 pm.
Indian Museum in Calcutta
The biggest and the oldest museum in India is located in Calcutta, West Bengal. It is simply known as the Indian Museum. The collections are varied with many categories: history, cultures, arts, botany, and more. Sure. for the history lovers, you can visit the history part, where you can watch and enjoy so many artifacts (手工艺品) from Indian ancient kingdoms along with complete descriptions of them. Besides, there are incredible traditional paintings. Most notably, if you think the mummy is only in the Egyptian museum, it is not completely true. The Indian Museum has it as well. The museum opens from 10 am to 5 pm and it is closed every Monday.
Sulabh International Toilet Museum
The museum houses countless toilet collections, starting from the old and ancient toilets to the modern ones. The toilets displayed are coming from 50 countries and the number is predicted to increase. Sure, many of the collections represent the history and cultures of those countries. The museum opens every day from 10: 30 am to 5 pm.
1. Who is International Doll Museum mainly intended for?| A．Students. | B．Children. | C．Adults. | D．Employees. |
| A．Make artifacts. | B．Learn to paint. | C．See the mummy. | D．Grow some plants. |
| A．International Doll Museum. | B．Paldi Kite Museum |
| C．The Indian Museum. | D．Sulabh International Toilet Museum. |
4 . Stay in style: Europe’s 4 best new design hotels
Casa Cook Samos, Greece
The laid-back island of Samos, birthplace of Pythagoras and, in legend, of the goddess Hera, is the heavenly location for the fourth hotel from Casa Cook. Its low-cost, high-style pads in Greece and Egypt are perfect for the Insta generation. It’s relaxed here, with a yoga salon, a wellness centre, six swimming pools and terraces dotted with earthy-toned daybeds — all set among wild olive trees, agave, pines and palms, echoing the verdant landscapes of this hilly Aegean island.
Doubles from €148 a night, casacook.com
MOB House, Paris, France
This hotel has come up with a new formula — “3-in-1” rooms, incorporating bed, office and meeting room. But even those not “workationing” will find this a fun stay, especially when the organic beerhouse, gym, large garden and 20-metre outdoor pool are taken into account. Trendsetting rooms, painted in sandy and mossy colours, are typical of the team behind the hotel, which includes designer Philippe Starck and Cyril Aouizerate.
Doubles from €200 B&B, mobhouse.com
Hôtel de Cambis, Avignon, France
With an extremely well-stocked wine bar and an “artistic concept based on wine and the French art of living”, the freshly uncorked Hôtel de Cambis is one for wine lovers. It may have the exterior of a grande dame, but inside, the rooms — categorized as millésime, premier cru or grand cru.
Doubles from €130 B&B, hoteldecambis.com
The Baro, southern Finland
Black timber cabins with picture windows are raised on stilts in a pine forest overlooking the sea at this pared-back retreat in the Inkoo region. Guests can explore several large islands, offering beaches, galleries and smart cafes, or just hang out in the black wooden sauna on the beach, go mushroom picking or borrow kayaks.
Doubles from €238 B&B, one under-four can share the room for free, extra beds €50, thebarofiland.com
1. Which hotel is the most appealing to the Insta generation?| A．Casa Cook Samos, Greece. | B．MOB House, Paris, France. |
| C．Hôtel de Cambis, Avignon. | D．The Baro, southern Finland. |
| A．They are the birthplace of the Goddess of Greek mythology. |
| B．They both cater to people with fitness needs. |
| C．They both embody an artistic concept which is based on wine and the French art of living. |
| D．They are both located in a pine forest. |
| A．€130. | B．€200. | C．€238. | D．€288. |
1. Why did the woman's family move to Canada?
| A．Because she wanted to study there. |
| B．Because her mother went to work there. |
| C．Because her father got a better job there. |
| A．On a bus. | B．In the classroom. | C．At the basketball club. |
| A．The lifestyle. | B．The people. | C．The space. |
