At long last, Stefano Boeri Architects' brilliant Bosco Verticale towers are finally completed. The “world's first vertical forest” consists of a fantastic pair of costly towers that add nearly 2.5 acres of lush vegetation to the sky line of Milan, a city notorious (声名狼藉的) for its air pollution. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Like a pair of green lungs, its forested appearance of 21,000 plants will absorb CO₂, control noise pollution, lessen the urban heat island effect, and create oxygen and favorable micro-climates.

    The Bosco Verticale mixed-use towers are constructed with a $2.5 billion public-private investment as part of the re-development of Milan's Porta Nuova district. The towers, measuring 260 feet and 367 feet, house 800 trees between 9 and 30 feet tall, over 4,000 shrubs (灌木) and 15,000 ground cover plants. Bosco Verticale is created with LEED Gold Certification (绿色建筑黄金认证) in mind. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

    The buildings shrub have welcomed their first residents. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  A fast-growing bird population has already begun to nest in Bosco Verticale's rich leaves, of which over a hundred different species of trees and shrubs are represented. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

    The superstructure is also selected for the world famous International Highrise Building Award as one of the five most beautiful and original high-rises in the world that is completed. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

A. “We take great pride in this project, which may earn us an award” says Boeri.

B. Boeri is currently in China, where he plans to build another Bosco Verticale project.

C. It is also equipped with a gray water recycling and irrigation system.

D. However, Bosco Verticale will be more than just a beautiful sight to enjoy.

E. “The real key to this project is biodiversity,” says Boeri.

F. It is also well received by the Chinese experts in the field.

G. But those families aren't the only ones to call the vertical forest home.

    With more and more cars on the road, traffic jams are inevitable(不可避免的）. Traffic jams can lead to increased accidents as there are more cars. It's impossible to avoid traffic jams altogether.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Check for traffic jams before you leave.

    You can listen to the radio for traffic news, or check on the Internet to get up-to-minute information on traffic. If the route you want to take is heavy with traffic, you can choose another.

    Look for a different route all the time.

    Most traffic jams happen on busy roads.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Although the distance you may have to travel is further, it can work out quicker.

    Set your car radio to receive traffic bulletins.

    Many new car stereo systems (汽车音响系统) are equipped with a radio system by which you can hear the traffic channel.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Most traffic jams usually occur during rush hour, so try to avoid this time period if possible. Some jobs offer flexible working hours so that you can travel to work outside of rush hour. Some jobs even allow you to work at home so as to avoid moving altogether. Ask your manager to see what you can do if traffic is a problem for you.

    Use public transport alternatives where available.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Not only will you avoid traffic jams but you will most likely be saving money as the cost of motoring rises.

A. Try traveling at different time.

B. What should we do to prevent traffic accidents?

C. The easiest way to avoid traffic jams is to take buses or the underground instead of driving your own car.

D. Public transport is so important in our life that we should use it at any time.

E. This way you can get the latest traffic information and change your journey if necessary.

F. Using country roads could let you avoid a lot of traffic.

G. There are some tips you can follow to reduce the amount of time on the road.

How to Improve Vocabulary Fast

    Your vocabulary refers to the words in a language you are familiar with. We should learn some ways to expand it.

    Read every day. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Choose reading material that is slightly above your level and keep a dictionary with you to look up words you do not know.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you do not meet with an unfamiliar word in your daily reading, use your dictionary to search for one.

    Learn the correct definition and pronunciation for each new word. Pronunciation is as important as definition because in order to add a word to your active vocabulary, you must be able to use it in speech.

    Elaborate(阐释)on the meaning of the word. Use imagery and personal relevance. If you have just learned that the word “stubborn” , think about the neighbor who will not lend you his car. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Use your new word in speech and in writing. E-mail your sister about how your cat is stubborn about sleeping on your pillow. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But the more you use it, the more fluent you will become in its use. Soon it will be a regular part of your active vocabulary.

    Tell everyone you are trying to increase your vocabulary. Encourage them to ask you what your latest word is {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.The more you explain the meaning of a word to someone, the more likely you are to remember it.

A. Or let them ask for the definition of a new word you have used.

B. Your vocabulary contains the words you understand.

C. The vocabulary can be increased.

D. Imagine him shaking his head, and think of him as “stubborn in his refusal”.

E. The first time you use a new word in speech it may seem strange.

F. Find a new word every day.

G. The more often you read, the faster your vocabulary can grow.

    Knowing your neighbors can make you feel safer and can make your life a little more enjoyable.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Start a Facebook group. Many online groups already exist for local communities, but they may just focus on swapping and selling objects, or simply for exploring the local area.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}For example, starting a Facebook group.

    Get volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded neighbors and make a difference to your community.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Charities are the most obvious place to start. Charities, large or small, are always looking for help in regions across the UK. A simple Google search can help you discover local charities and volunteer opportunities.

    Practice everyday kindness. Kindness is the start to possible long-lasting friendships. Everyday acts of kindness can be as simple as saying hello when you see your neighbors in the street or the supermarket. It may be seeing someone struggle with the gardening and offering your help.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Start an exercise group. There are a rare few of us that are motivated to start exercising, and even fewer that enjoy going it alone.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Plan big walks of your area and ask neighbors to come along. You could sign up together to attempt a marathon or half marathon. Or perhaps you can arrange a Zumba, yoga, or aerobics (有氧运动) class in the community centre.

A. However, you are often too busy to realize this.

B. There are many ways to volunteer in your local community.

C. Starting a neighborhood exercise group may be just the ticket.

D. So why not set one up simply to get to know your neighbors better?

E. It may also be taking in that rather large parcel when no one is home.

F. If you're new to an area or don't know how to make local friends, try this advice.

G. These groups indeed make life in communities easier and more comfortable for you.

The beginnings of the Globe Theatre

    The Globe Theatre is one of the most well-known theatres in the world. In 1996, it was voted for the “best attraction in Europe”. However, this version of the Globe, completed in the mid-1990s with funds from the Shakespeare Globe Playhouse Trust, is not the original Globe built in the 1500s.

    During the 16th century, plays were popular entertainment among all kinds of people from wealthy nobles to the working class.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Actors performed in small hotels throughout the countryside and in London. James Burbage, an actor and painter, build the first public playhouse in England called The Theatre because it was the first ever built in London. Now the audience could come to the actors rather than the other way around,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    When Burbage died, his sons Cuthbert and Richard, took over The Theatre. The Land, however, on which the playhouse was built was not owned by Burbage.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} The actors decided they would build their own theatre. They rented land near another theatre, The Rose, and used wood from The Theatre to build the first Globe Theatre. It was here that Shakespeare's famous plays were performed{#blank#}4{#/blank#} The actors' love for the Globe was so strong that when it burned down in 1613, they pooled their own money to rebuilt it, making it even better than before with beautiful decorations and details adorning(装饰) the stage{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The Theatre was a huge success.

B. This theatre could hold several thousand people!

C. Queen Elizabeth I of England had a great love for plays.

D. When one enters the Globe Theatre ，one is in the greatest theater.

E. A man named Giles Allen owned the land and didn't want to rent the land to them.

F. Success was immediate and the Globe Theatre was a favorite of audiences and actors alike.

G. Even though this version of the Globe Theatre didn't survive through the century, its influence lives on.

    The “best years of your life”? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.

    Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a good supply of food, a bed to sleep on, family that loves you, having a good education or simply being born in this world.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you do become one.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Unlike what many articles state, you don't have to be popular and have many friends to be happy. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Try to have friends that like you who you are, not just because you are wearing a certain brand of shoes or something like that. These are people who shop at the same store as you; not someone who will sympathize with you when your dog dies.

    Be sociable.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people. Participating gives you something to do instead of sitting bored at home.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Video games, for example, are good if you're the type who can get into that kind of thing. You should also find a hobby that is meaningful or practical. Use your “hobby time” to either volunteer (to gain practical skills for college apps, job resumes, and scholarships) or learn an instrument, or get into something else in the creative field like painting or dance.

A. You can pursue interests you enjoy.

B. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C. Choose your friends wisely.

D. Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends.

E. In fact, many of the “friends” you have when you are popular are not true friends.

F. Being confident in your appearance makes you more confident in other areas.

G. Remember that the point of life is for you to enjoy it.