Some people love going to museums，while others absolutely hate it and would rather stay at home，enjoying their favorite TV shows．Increasingly，museums are being seen as outdated and boring by today's youngsters．I have just returned to the UK after travelling around the USA． While there，I visited lots of museums  I must say，museums are typically educational, either to develop knowledge gained at school in particular subjects，or to enhance knowledge of other cultures

    In Chicago，we visited the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago．It was filled with paintings，drawings and sculptures by a huge variety of artists，such as Picasso，Monet，Matisse and Dali．

    There was a mixture of traditional and modern art，including colorful stained glass windows and abstract art．

    When we were in Washington D． C． ，we visited a few of the Smithsonian museums．These are all free to visit-which is great if you just want to see a few things，and not spend all day inside．

    The Air and Space Museum was particularly good：it had lots of aircrafts and rockets on display，interesting information and also some interactive parts．We also went to the National U．S．Holocaust（纳粹大屠杀）Memorial Museum．Naturally，it was sad to read about the horrors of this tragedy which affected so many people in World War II．However，it was also incredibly interesting to read the stories of those who survived the Holocaust，as well as those who helped others．

    Last but not least，I also found the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to be of great interest．This museum is dedicated to those who lost their lives，as well as their families，when the Twin Towers in New York City were attacked by terrorists in 2001It tells you how the terrorists planned the attack，how they hijacked the planes，and ultimately what happened as a result of their actions．Surviving pieces of the towers are shown in the museum，alongside damaged fire engines．It was a truly thought-provoking visit，which made me value my own life that little bit more．

    I think museums play an important role in preserving artifacts of historical importance for future generations．Whatever your interests，there is likely to be a museum for you．You can visit waxwork museums to see models of your favorite celebrities（and get photos with the Queen！），science museums for a more hands-on，interactive visit and so much more！Best of all，if you're ever in the UK，many of them are free！

    Beijing Opera is the most representative of all Chinese traditional dramatic art forms and the largest Chinese opera form. Having a history of about 200 years, it is developed from absorbing(吸收)many other dramatic forms, mostly from the local drama 'Huiban', which was popular in South China during the 18th century. It is a scenic（戏剧的）art integrating music, performance, literature, aria, and face painting.

    Theatrical art forms in many other countries do not present singing, dancing and spoken parts in one single drama. An opera singer, for example, neither dances nor speaks on stage; there are no singing or dancing parts in a modern play; in a dance drama, the dancer has no speaking role and does not sing either. Traditional Chinese drama, including Beijing Opera, is a kind of entertainment which includes spoken parts, singing, dancing and acrobatics.

    In addition to its presence in China, Beijing Opera has spread to many other places. Mer Lanfang, one of the most famous performers(表演者)of all time, was the first to introduce Beijing Opera to foreigners and made highly successful tours to foreign countries.

    “You will be puzzled(困惑)all the way through and a little bored from time to time; but you will be charmed and interested. You will be strongly attracted to Beijing Opera even if you know nothing of the dramatic background. "This is how one American traveller described his firs experience in watching Beijing Opera.

    Beijing Opera is China's national opera and it is full of Chinese cultural traditions. Welcome to China and enjoy Beijing Opera!

    One day an American called Simon went to London to visit his friend. Rick told him that his flat was on the first floor. When he arrived, Simon went straight to the first floor of the building. But he was told that there was no Rick on that floor. Do you know why?

    In fact, the British call the first floor of a building the ground floor. The floor above the ground floor is the first floor, which Americans would call the second floor.

    The story shows that there are a few culture differences between Britain and America, though the British and Americans both speak English.

    The British usually hide their feelings. They seldom start a conversation with strangers. For example, on the train the British often spend their time reading newspapers or books. But Americans are quite different. They're more active and easier to talk with.

    The British and Americans may use different terms for many things. The British usually use football, eraser and mail while Americans prefer to use soccer, rubber and post.

    England is the biggest of the four countries in the United Kingdom. Together with Scotland and Wales, these three countries make up the island of Great Britain. When you include Northern Ireland (the country in the northeastern part of Ireland) we call it the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Over 50 million people live in England. That's around 80 percent of the UK's total population. It is a multicultural (多元文化的) country where more than 250 languages are spoken in the capital city of London. Outside of the big cities, England is a very green country and has many beautiful rural areas, such as the Lake District in the north and the New Forest, a big area of forest in the southern part of the country.

Music

    English people love music. In the summer, there are music festivals all over the country. Glastonbury (格拉斯顿堡) is a five-day festival of music, dance, comedy, theatre and circus (马戏). About 175,000 people go to it each year. 

    People in England listen to all types of music, especially pop and rock. England has produced many international groups and singers like the Beatles, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Adele.

Sport

    The most popular sports in England are football, rugby (橄榄球) and cricket (板球). Most towns have at least one field where teams can play. English football teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are world-famous. Cricket is a traditional sport played with a bat (球拍) and ball. It began in England and is now played all over the world.

Food

    England is a very multicultural country and this has a big influence on the food people eat. Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines (饭菜) are popular besides traditional English food like fish and chips, roast beef or sausage and mashed potatoes (土豆泥). Many English people drink several cups of tea each day, usually with milk.