Visitors worry that London is an expensive city but there really are so many things to do for free in London from museums and galleries to free music and walking tours.
Art Galleries
Tate Modern and Tate Britain are exceptional national art galleries housing some of the finest artworks in the world.Tate Modern focuses on contemporary art while Tate Britain displays British Art from the sixteenth century to the present day.
Museums
All of London's major museums are free, but most offer some special exhibitions for a fee.My favorite is the Museum of London where you can learn the history of London from Roman times to today.Other great major museums are the British Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum.Oh, and I love the Geffrye Museum.And the Horniman Museum.Now I can't decide which is the best!
Many of London's major art galleries and museums are open in the evening and often have special evening events.This can be a great way to relax at the end of a busy day seeing the sights.The main London galleries and museums are air-conditioned so it can be wonderful way to cool down in the height of summer in the city.Galleries and museums are not open late every night so here is a handy list to help you plan your days and evenings.
Royal Parks
Many people say the Queen Mary's Rose Gardens in Regent's Park is their favorite spot in London, and who am I to argue? I would also recommend St.James's Park as it offers one of the best views of Buckingham Palace.Hyde Park is enormous and includes the ever popular Diana Memorial Fountain and the Peter Pan Statue.
There are often free talks and guided walks in the royal parks so do check the What's On section of the Royal Parks website.
Changing of the Guard
No visit to London is complete without seeing this military tradition.The Queen's Guard in London changes in the Forecourt inside the gates of Buckingham Palace at 11.30am every day in the summer and every other day in the winter.Get there early and view the spectacle from outside the front gates.
(1)
The passage is intended to _________.
[ ]
A.
advise travelers how to choose art articles
B.
help visitors save money while visiting Ireland
C.
recommend some free scenic spots to tourists
D.
tell readers London’s wonderful history
(2)
If you visit some museums in London in late evenings, you _________.
[ ]
A.
may have a chance to enjoy some special events
B.
have to endure(put up with)the heat of the summer
C.
need to pay admission for general exhibition
D.
can see all the artworks free of charge
(3)
In order to watch Changing of the Guard in summer, visitors have to _________.
One of the largest countries in Texas is named for Captain Erastus“Deaf”Smith-a deaf man.Captain Smith was the leader of General Sam Houston's scouts during the Texas Revolution, the war in which Texas won its freedom from Mexico.The county named in his honor is called Deaf Smith County.
A scout in the days of the Texas Revolution was much like what a spy is today.Captain“Deaf”Smith would find out where enemy troops were camped and how many men the enemy had, and he would report to Sam Houston.Even when other people could not see or hear any sign of people or animals, Captain Smith would know where they were.Sometimes he would guide Texas troops through enemy territory without the enemy even knowing they were there.
Erastus Smith was born in New York on April 19,1787; but went to live:in Mississippi when he was 11 years old.He went to Texas for a short time in 1817, and four years later returned to Texas to stay; He wandered over Texas as a surveyor(测量员)before he volunteered for army service after the start of the Texas Revolution.
Smith married a Mexican woman, and they had four children-three girls and one boy.He spent a lot of time learning the customs, manners, and language of the Mexican settlers.When the Texas Revolution began in 1835, Smith at first refused to take part in it out of respect for his family's heritage(传统).However, after Mexican troops tried to stop him from going to San Antonio to visit his family, he volunteered for service with the Texans.He was made a captain.
(1)
At first, Smith refused to take part in the Texas Revolution because ________.
[ ]
A.
he was a peace-loving person and hated fighting
B.
Mexican soldiers stopped him from going to San Antonio
C.
the Texans were not very good to him and his family
D.
his wife was Mexican and he didn't want to fight against her people
(2)
How old was Smith when he settled in Texas?
[ ]
A.
Thirty-four.
B.
Eleven.
C.
Thirty.
D.
Twenty-seven.
(3)
Which of the following is the correct order of the events?
a.A county in Texas was named after Smith.
b.Smith got married to a Mexican woman.
c.Smith volunteered for service with the Texans.
d.Mexican troops tried to stop him from seeing his family.
e.Smith went to live in Mississippi.
f.The Texas Revolution started.
[ ]
A.
a-b-c-d-e-f
B.
e-b-d-c-a-f
C.
b-e-f-d-c-a
D.
e-b-f-d-c-a
(4)
Which of the following was a great help in Smith's work as a scout?
[ ]
A.
His family's heritage.
B.
His experience as a surveyor.
C.
His deafness.
D.
His good eyesight.
(5)
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was born at Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16,1775,and died on July 18,1817.She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously(匿名).
But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous local people and visitors.She paid two long visits here during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806, Bath was her home.Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath.The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping in its streets and public buildings the well-ordered world that she described so well in her novels.Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen’s Bath can be enhanced(增强)by visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street.Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen’s time and the importance of Bath in her life and work.
The Centre has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society.After your visit to the Centre, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts.Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy.
You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen’s Bath, which is a great way’ to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath.The tour lasts about one and a half hours.The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped.
(1)
Jane Austen paid two long visits to Bath ________.
[ ]
A.
in her early twenties
B.
in her early teens
C.
in her late twenties
D.
in her late teens
(2)
What can we learn about Bath from the passage?
[ ]
A.
Bath has greatly changed since Jane Austen’s death.
B.
The city has changed as much as Jane Ansten knew it.
C.
Bath remains almost the same as in Jane Austen's time.
D.
No changes have taken place in Bath since Jane Austen's time.
(3)
The author writes this passage in order to ________.
[ ]
A.
attract readers to visit the city of Bath
B.
ask readers to buy Austen’s books
C.
tell readers about Jane Austen’s experience
D.
give a brief introduction to the Jane Austen Society