1 . Libraries are the temple for book lovers, the main source of knowledge and wisdom. Here are the biggest libraries in the world.
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress in the US is the biggest library in the world, whose collections are from all around the world. The library has a collection of 32 million cataloged books. It receives 22,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the US. Some of the major works stored in the library are Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence, the world’s most famous architectural designs and so on.
The British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is the second biggest library in the world. It holds 150 million items from different countries. It receives 8,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its collection includes 14 million books. Every year over 3 million items are added to the library. The major highlights of the library collection are Diamond Sutra and Alice’s Adventures under Ground.
Library and Archives (档案馆) Canada (LAC)
Canada has the third biggest library in the world. The library holds 20 million books, 24 million photographs and a lot of digital works. Its collection includes The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act, the British North America Act and many more precious works.
The New York Public Library (NYPL)
It is the fourth largest library in the world. It is the public library having 87 branches. The library has a collection of 53 million items. It also has four research libraries which are open to the general public. You can ask and discover about anything on the official website of NYPL.
1. Which of the following works is stored in the Library of Congress?| A．The British North America Act. |
| B．Alice’s Adventures under Ground. |
| C．Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence. |
| D．The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act. |
| A．About 22,000. | B．More than 8,000. |
| C．About 14 million. | D．More than 3 million. |
| A．Library and Archives Canada. | B．The Library of Congress. |
| C．The New York Public Library. | D．The British Library. |
2 . The best restaurants for outdoor dining in Greater Boston
Beehive Restaurant (541 Tremont St., Boston)
If you want to have fun while you enjoy your meal, head to Beehive, where you get specialized brunch, cocktails, and live music with your patio(露台) dining.
“Great food and service, fun atmosphere in and out.”
—Esta E., Back Bay
Brighton Bodega (328 Washington St., Brighton) and Devlin’s Bistro & Bar (332 Washington St., Brighton)
Although these are two separate eateries, they share a patio space in Brighton. Visit Brighton Bodega for its Asian-inspired small plates and Devlin’s for the drinks menu. While you’re there, you may get to experience some live jazz.
“These sister restaurants share a lovely patio area with a good atmosphere and excellent food! I love the constantly changing and always creative Brighton Bodega menu, and the steady favorites menu of Devlin’s.”
—Wendy, Cambridge
Chart House (60 Long Wharf, Boston)
Chart House has served hungry customers in the Boston area for more than 60 years and continues to do so with its patio dining experience and “perfect views”.
“It is not in a too-crowded area. It’s not amidst cars and too many passers-by, so you can hear the water and the silence once in a while. There is parking at the back so I can drive in, dine, and drive out.”
—Lissa W., Uxbridge
Frenchie Wine Bistro (560 Tremont St., Boston)
Outdoor dining is becoming more popular in Boston, but there’s something about it that feels very European. especially at this South End spot. Sit out on the patio for its modern French menu and wide selection of wines.
“It’s just the best. Great views, food and drink, and THE BEST people watching!”
—Chris H., Boston
1. What do Beehive Restaurant and Brighton Bodega have in common?| A．Both share one patio. | B．Both have great views. |
| C．Both provide live music. | D．Both are in the same street. |
| A．Chart House. | B．Devlin’s Bistro &Bar. |
| C．Beehive Restaurant. | D．Frenchie Wine Bistro. |
| A．It is in the south of America. |
| B．It has a European flavor. |
| C．It changes its menu frequently. |
| D．It allows customers to drive in. |
3 . Four Most Beautiful Subways in the World
City Hall Station, New York
Country: the USA
Opened: 1904
Unlike the other subway stations, this one hasn’t been in use since 1945. However, it can be admired by those going aboard the trains that run on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. Opened on October 27, 1904, this station was designed to represent the flagship of the new subway. Thanks to the specific shape and colors, the station remains the only one of its kind and very impressive—so impressive that it’s often chosen as a movie set.
Toledo Station, Naples
Country: Italy
Opened: 2012
The subway station which is considered the most beautiful in the world stands in Italy. The new design of the Toledo Station in Naples features colorful pictures from a full range of shades of blue. During the construction of the station, it brought to light several archaeological (考古的)finds dating back to the end of the 15th to early 16th century as well as Roman buildings dating back to the 2nd century.
Champ-de-Mars Station, Montreal
Country: Canada
Opened: 1966
Champ-de-Mars is a station on the Orange Line of the Montreal Subway, Canada. It features colorful glass windows made by the artist Marcelle Ferron. Some of the works featured in this station are also considered to be the artist’s most famous ones.
Komsomolskaya, Mosca
Country: Russia
Opened: 1952
Standing in Komsomolskaya Square and the crossroads of three different subway lines, this station is very busy and beautiful. Its place and inside design make it a perfect representation of Russian culture.
1. What can be known about City Hall Station?| A．It represents the new culture. | B．It is the oldest subway in the world. |
| C．It has appeared in some movies. | D．It can transport the most passengers. |
| A．The USA. | B．Italy. | C．Canada. | D．Russia. |
| A．City Hall Station, New York. | B．Toledo Station, Naples. |
| C．Champ-de-Mars Station, Montreal. | D．Komsomolskaya, Mosca. |
4 . There are many different types of houses in the UK. You may see detached, semi-detached, terraced houses or even end-of-terrace houses on a typical street. You might see apartments in wealthier parts of town, or people living in bungalows, preferring to live a life without stairs. Strange cottages may dot the countryside, while heading to the cities you could see any number of types of flats, including houses turned into flats, studios and duplexes. But one thing you will notice is that many houses come from different eras, and asking a British person about their ideal home, many of them will have a specific period property in mind.
For some, it could be Victorian houses, which are often seen with bay windows, high ceilings, stained glass doors and colored brickwork. During the Victorian era, a huge number of houses, particularly terraced, were built in towns and cities to accommodate vast numbers of workers who were moving from more rural areas.
Georgian architecture refers to houses built during the period of 1714 and 1830 during the rules of four British monarchs. Usually houses with this architectural style have a more symmetrical theme, both internally and externally, with a small square garden in front. For those not into older properties, new builds from the 1990s onwards offer better insulation against the cold and newer electrics. And those who prefer less repairs could always go with the open-plan or minimalist look of the modern era.
So, whether it’s high ceilings, better insulation, brickwork, bungalows or square gardens, people in Britain have a wide variety of preferences when it comes to where they live. And their ideal home may just simply be a case of what style feels like home.
1. What do the Victorian houses have?| A．A small square garden in front. | B．High ceilings and colored brickwork. |
| C．A more symmetrical theme than any other era. | D．Broken windows and stainless doors. |
| A．To display the wisdom of the architects. | B．To introduce the origin of them. |
| C．To attract people fond of British houses. | D．To show the diversity of British houses. |
| A．The preference of British for the houses. | B．The history of the Georgian houses. |
| C．The house structures of Britain. | D．The fine scenery in Britain. |
| A．Ideal British home. | B．Terraced houses. |
| C．Georgian houses. | D．Square and gardens. |
Many cities have live music in their parks during the summer. But there’s a park in Denmark
As part of
Since then, over 80 trees
All kinds of music from
1. What kind of apartment does the man want to rent?
| A．An apartment with two bedrooms and a bathroom. |
| B．An apartment with a small bedroom and a bathroom. |
| C．An apartment with a bedroom and a small bathroom. |
| A．$240. | B．$340. | C．$480. |
| A．2 miles. | B．3 miles. | C．4 miles. |
I believe there are many things that we can do to make life in our town a lot better for teenagers.
First of all, I think more bike lanes should
Thirdly, teenagers here need more sports facilities. There
Finally, I’m sure we’ll make the town better
8 . Outdoor kitchens are becoming more and more popular right now. They allow homeowners to cook outside when the weather is great. Also, adding an outdoor kitchen can increase the value of the home for those who may be planning to sell it in the near future. When it comes to adding a new outdoor kitchen, the right planning is important.
The layout of the kitchen is important to consider. There are different ideas on how to set up a kitchen, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. Many people prefer the kitchen triangle method, which makes it easy to move around the kitchen while cooking. Others, however, prefer to divide the kitchen into parts. This is perfect when there may be many people in the kitchen or the kitchen is too small for the kitchen triangle to be effective. No matter what method is used for the layout, pay attention to how much room there is to move around and how easy it is to reach all of the appliances.
When designing the outdoor kitchen, pay attention to the amount of storage space. Storage may be needed for dishes, drinking cups, extra drinks, shelf-stable foods and a lot more. Think about everything that needs to be outside to prevent running back and forth between the kitchen inside and the one outside, then consider how much space is needed for storage. Everything doesn’t have to fit in the kitchen itself, but should at least be stored where it can be easily accessed while outside in the kitchen.
The cost of an outdoor kitchen can quickly add up once everything desired is included, so it’s important to set a budget. It also may be possible to spend a little more on the things that are more important and look into savings for things that may not be as important. Once the budget is set and the design is planned out, it’s time to work with an expert to start creating the perfect outdoor kitchen.
1. Why do many people prefer the kitchen triangle method?| A．It can make moving around easy. | B．It can hold more people in the kitchen. |
| C．It can increase the value of the house. | D．It can make the kitchen more attractive. |
| A．How to use it properly. | B．How to avoid running in and out. |
| C．How often it will be used. | D．How to keep it clean and tidy. |
| A．By buying cheap materials. | B．By turning to an expert for help. |
| C．By spending money wisely. | D．By ignoring unimportant things. |
| A．How to Enlarge Storage Space of an Outside Kitchen? |
| B．What to Do to Design the Layout of the Kitchen? |
| C．How to Set a Budget for the Outside Kitchen? |
| D．What to Know to Create an Outside Kitchen? |
9 . Now that the Government’s official “stay at home” advice has been lifted, many office workers are flooding back into city centres, alongside students who are returning to in-person classes across Britain. As a result, we’re seeing demand for rental homes in key city locations rise by as much as 70% compared to this time last year when working from home and online lectures were the new norm. Take a look at the hottest rental locations outside London.
1. Clifton, Bristol
The hottest rental market in Britain is Clifton, where rental demand is up by 71%. The area is packed with gorgeous Georgian houses or period flats which have the double benefit of being within walking distance of the city centre, and also close to Bristol University and a good choice of local pubs, cafes, restaurants, and shops.
2. Didsbury, Manchester
The neighbourhood of Didsbury, just over five miles (or a seven-minute train ride) south of Manchester’s city centre, has long been a hotspot. Didsbury still has a real urban village feel, several lovely parks and an annual summer festival, although its independent shops are slowly but surely being driven out by chains. Property wise there is a good mix of modern purpose built flats, and period houses and flats. Interest from renters is up 62 per cent in Didsbury.
3. Edinburgh per cent.
This rental hotspot on today’s league table is north of the border. The beautiful university city of Edinburgh has seen demand rise by 58 percent. With its historic UNESCO World Heritage centre, villagey suburbs like Stockbridge, and even the seaside at Portobello this is truly a “something for everyone” option.
1. What is one of the reasons for the increasing need of rental homes?| A．The government’s “stay at home” advice. | B．Students’ taking online lectures. |
| C．Workers’ returning to office. | D．London’s overcrowding. |
| A．Walking distance to the city center. | B．Convenient chain stores. |
| C．Good location near the sea. | D．unique rural feel. |
| A．Clifton | B．Didsbury | C．London | D．Edinburgh |
1. Where should the visitors’ dogs stay?
| A．In the farmhouse. | B．In the car park. | C．In the animal center. |
| A．A theater. | B．A schoolhouse. | C．A swimming pool. |
| A．Gardening. | B．Harvesting. | C．Basket- making. |
