Best royal palaces in Europe you can visit
There are some royal palaces in Europe that they often open their doors to the public.
Drottningholm Palace, Sweden
This breathtaking 17th century palace in Drottningholm is not only the residence of the Swedish royal family, but it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its impressively preserved castle and theatre. The palace and park are open to the public year-round.
Royal Palace of Oslo, Norway
The official royal residence for the Norwegian royals, this beautiful palace boasts neoclassical architecture and landscaped gardens complete with ponds and eye-catching statues. During the summer months the palace opens to the public on guided tours, which include beautiful staterooms (会客厅), the Bird Room, the Great Hall and the Family Dining Room.
Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
While the Palacio Real is officially the royal residence, nowadays the Spanish royals choose to live in the Zarzuela Palace instead, with the Madrid palace used mainly for state ceremonies. There are over 3, 000 rooms in this breathtaking palace making it one of the largest palaces in the world. Highlights include the royal kitchens and the painting gallery, while the Changing of the Guard ceremony never fails to be a hit with tourists.
Palace of Versailles, France
If you seek after a palace that's luxurious (豪华的), then the Palace of Versailles needs to be on your list. France hasn't had a royal family since the French Revolution in 1789, but this palace offers a glimpse into how the former royals lived, as well as serving as a museum paying tribute to France's rich history.
William Butler Yeats, a most famous Irish writer, was born in Dublin on June 13,1865. His childhood lacked the harmony(和睦)that was typical of a happy family. Later, Yeats shocked his family by saying that he remembered "little of childhood but its pain". In fact, he inherited(继承)excellent taste in art from his family—both his father and bis brother were painters. But he finally settled on literature, particularly drama(戏剧)and poetry.
Yeats had strong faith in coming of new artistic movements. He set himself the fresh task in founding an Irish national theatre in the late 1890s. His early theatrical experiments, however, were not received favourably at the beginning. He didn't lose heart, and finally enjoyed success in his poetical drama.
Compared with his dramatic works, Yeats's poems attract much admiring notice. The subject matter includes love, nature, history, time and aging. Though Yeats generally relied on very traditional forms, he brought modern sensibility to them. As his literary life progressed, his poetry grew finer and richer, which led him to worldwide recognition.
He had not enjoyed a major public life since winning the Nobel Prize in 1923.Yet, he continued writing almost to the end of his life, for there is no other example in literary history of a poet who produced his greatest works between the ages of 50 and 70. He died in 1939, aged 73.
The idea of low material desire, low consumption and refusing to work, marry and have children, concluded as a "lying down" lifestyle, recently struck a chord with many young Chinese who are eager to take pause to breathe in this fast-paced and highly-competitive society.
Many millennials (千禧一代) and generation Zs complained to the Global Times that burdens, including work stress, family disputes (纷争) and financial strains, have pushed them "against the wall". They said they hate the "involution (内卷)," joking that they would rather give up some of what they have than get trapped in an endless competition against peers.
"Instead of always following the 'virtues' of struggle, endure and sacrifice to bear the stresses, they prefer a temporary lying down as catharsis (宣泄) and adjustment," said a scholar. "It is no wonder that some young people, under the growing pressures from child-raising to paying the mortgage (按揭) today, would try to live in a simple way and leave the worries behind."
Interestingly, the majority of millennials and Gen Zs reached by the Global Times, who claim to be big fans of the lying down philosophy, acknowledged that they only accept a temporary lying down as a short rest. It is true that with the great improvement of living conditions, some Chinese youth have partially lost the spirit of hardship and are not willing to bear too much hard work. But in fact, lying down is not entirely comfortable. Young people who lie down always feel guilty about their constant loss of morale (士气) far beyond their reach.
"Young people on campus have both aspirations and confusion about their future, but most of us have rejected setting ourselves up in chains to waste opportunities and challenges," a postgraduate student told the Global Times. "It's no use running away. I have to ‘stand up' and face the reality sooner or later."
Chinese people's English proficiency (熟练) has improved in the past years compared to other non-English speaking countries, a report released on Tuesday said. It scores 53. 44 out of 100 points this year, 1.5 points more than last year.
This year's report was based on the EF Standard English Test results of more than 2.3 million adults who were tested on their ability to understand written and spoken English. Their median age was 23, and 59 percent were women, the report said.
Jesper Knutell, executive vice-president and general manager of corporate solutions, EF China, said China's increase in rankings was for two main reasons. Their long-term commitment to English education and increased investment in the language also made a great difference.
" Because I learned English, I had the opportunity to study at Harvard University, where I received a PhD. I also taught for 10 years at Yale University and the University of Michigan," said Ning Qiang, professor at Capital Normal University in Beijing. He added, "I am a product of good English proficiency and an example of how important good English proficiency is to peopled learning opportunities and career advancement."
To improve English proficiency, people should study English every day in sessions of 20 to 40 minutes rather than for hours at a time, Knutell said. He added that watching TV, reading and listening to the radio in English can also help.
A. English has changed my life.
B. English benefits my career a lot.
C. China's ranking rose seven places to 40th among 100 countries.
D. Chinese people's strong desire to understand the world counted.
E. The report was widely accepted by the people around the world.
F. The number of participants worldwide increased by 27% this year.
G. They should memorize vocabulary and begin using it immediately.
Adventure is in my blood. And I had been considering how I was going to celebrate my high school graduation. I didn't just want a small1in the backyard. I started thinking about doing a solo2somewhere out of the ordinary. I took out the map and drew a 1,500-mile3along which I would be4from the northernmost point in Norway to the southernmost section of Sweden. When I5 my plan with my dad, he6as I thought he would. Because I get my adventurous7from him, he was all for it.
I had only been away from my home for three days, but there was an inner8going on. Part of me was homesick and doubting whether I really could9 it. The other part of me was ready to10to myself and my family that I could do it by myself.
On the road, I met another bicyclist who was quite a bit older than I was. He started his journey alone by bike at the southern part of Norway and last finished. I could tell he had a great sense of11. It encouraged me not to12.
As I listened to my favourite artists on my MP4 player, I pedaled with my feet. There was nobody around me for miles.13, that wasn't entirely true. There were mosquitoes, millions of them. My arms were so dotted with14 that they looked like a topographical (地形的) map. But however15it would be, nothing could stop my advance on the destination. As you know, adventure is in my blood.
Once he to do something, he will stick to it.
made her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks.
1）分析利与弊;
2）提出建议。
注意：
1）词数80左右;
2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Jenny was a pretty eight-year-old girl.
One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace, by which she was totally defeated. How eagerly she wanted it! But when she saw the price, her heart sank a little. She gathered up her courage and asked her mother if she would buy it for her. Her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I can buy you the necklace, but when we get home, we should make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace." Jenny agreed immediately, feeling a burst of joy. So her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her housework determinedly and earnestly every day. Soon Jenny paid off the pearls.
Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?" "Oh, yes, Daddy, you know I love you." the little girl said delightedly, with a broad smile on her face. "Well, then, give me your pearls." Hearing that, Jenny froze there, an anxious expression twisting her face. "Oh! Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. Okay?" "Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss, gently and calmly. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you." the little girl murmured softly, trying to escape from her father's eyes. "Well, then, give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She is my favorite." The little girl begged. "No, that's okay," her father said, smiling broadly and sweetly and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
注意：1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1：
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her story, Jenny was waiting anxiously for him on the bed.
Paragraph 2：
Holding the plastic pearl his daughter offered, the father dragged out a blue box.
