A city without cars would be very strange, right? But Venice is such a city.

    Venice is   1    the northeast of Italy.  It wasn't built    2  , like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is  3  around the city.

    Even so, travel isn't difficult. The waterways have always been the best way to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges   4 can guide you where you want to go. People in Venice move   5  by boat.  They like to enjoy the scenery and cool summer nights while  6 boat trips. They can talk to other people as they go along.

    Venice grew out of small islands in saltwater lakes when some Italians    7    from a war over 1,500 years ago, and built homes there.

    Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Sometimes tourists will have such strange8. One moment they walk across the Rialto Bridge, and there's 9   . Butwhen they come back to the bridge an hour later, it's underwater and everyone is wearing rain shoes.

    Once, people used 10  underground water. This made the city get lower   11  .Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the   12 seawater.The temperature has risen over the years. This has made the ice of the Arctic Ocean(北冰洋) melt.

    Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter.  When a lot of water   13   , more than half of the city is underwater.

    Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting   14 lower. The Italian government has asked some of Italy's biggest companies to build the MOST project, which was planned  15   under the seawater to stop the rising water. Anyway, this project is helping solve the problem.

    Dads work hard every day. Father's Day is the time for us to say “thank you”to our dads.

    The idea for Father's Day started 11909. A woman called Sonora Dodd thought about 2a Father's Day holiday when she was listening to a Mother's Day speech at church. She wanted a special day to honour her father, William Smart. Mr Smart's wife died when she was giving birth to 3sixth child. He raised the baby and his4five children5 a farm.

    When she became 6adult, Sonora Dodd understood how kind her father was. When he was raising his six children7, he worked very 8to make sure his children grow up 9.

    Since 1966, the third Sunday in June has become a national Father's Day in10. In early times, people wore red roses 11respect for fathers who were still living and white flowers for fathers who had died. Today, people all over the world celebrate(庆祝) Father's Day 12many different ways. Some people buy their fathers something useful.Some people just do some simple things that they can do 13preparing a cup of tea or making some nice food for them. However the holiday is celebrated, the idea is for children to let their father 14that he is loved.

    15 give your father a surprise by saying “Thank you”on the coming Father's Day?

    We use body language to send messages to others. It is very 1 because others can understand you easily when you use body language. When you are talking with others, you are not just using words, but also using 2. For example, waving one's hand is to say "Good­bye". Shaking hands means welcome, and clapping hands 3 congratulations(祝贺). Nodding the head means YES, but shaking the head means NO.

    Different countries have 4 body language. For example, when in 5 ， France and Arab countries, people kiss each other when they meet, 6 men in China or Australia shake hands. People in Puerto Rico like touching each other, but people in Britain do not touch each other. People in Arab countries like 7 close to one another when they are talking, but English people must keep a distance away when they are talking. It is very important 8 the meanings of gestures and movements in the foreign country 9 they will help you communicate with people and make you stay there much more 10 and comfortable.

    In the US Mother's Day is a holiday on the second Sunday in May. It is a day when children give their 1cards，presents and flowers.

    One of the best ways to celebrate Mother's Day is to give your mother the day off. Let her have a good rest while other members of the family do the 2.

    Many families begin Mother's Day with3in bed. Usually Dad and the children will let Mum4late as they go into the kitchen（厨房）and get ready5 her favourite meal. A Mother's Day breakfast can make anything your mum likes.

    After the food is cooked, keep everything nicely on a plate. Don't forget to put the bottle6 only one flower. It's spring here, and the children can pick the nicest 7from the garden outside. When everything is ready, carefully carry the plate and Mum's favourite books and newspapers up to her bedroom. Cards and small presents from the children can be put on the plate8it is given to Mum in bed.

    Many families take Mum out to her favourite restaurant for a meal. It is a good day to let your mum9and let her see what a wonderful10she has.