Today many people call Amsterdam "the City of Bicycles" because it is a city which is flat and convenient for bicycles.

    In the 1960s, a group of cycling fans had an idea. They believed that it would be better for everybody if only bicycles were allowed in the city centre. They hoped that this would help to save energy, reduce pollution and provide free public transport. The group painted hundreds of bicycles white and placed them in public places around Amsterdam for people to use. Anyone was allowed to use them for short journeys, whether he was a local or a foreigner. Wherever someone finished a journey, they would leave the bike there for someone else to use. The problem was that it didn't work—thieves took all the bicycles within weeks.

    However, more than thirty years later, the "white bike" is back in town—this time with a computer chip (芯片) to record its every move! To take a bicycle, you have to put a special card inside. The new "white bike" is not white any more but is an unusual design with bright colours. The bikes are parked at special parking places and people who want to use them have to take them to another place that has enough room.

    There is less traffic in central Amsterdam because both locals mad tourists have been using the white bikes. Thanks to the good ideas of lots of people, like the cycling fans in the 1960s, many people around the world have been enjoying city centre streets without cars for many years.

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

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

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

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

    Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem.

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

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

    Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower.

Hello, my name is Sabrina. I was around lightning while taking a hike in the Grand Canyon, but I was safe because I knew the following tips.

Tonight's Radio Programs List

A.Talk Talk

B.Problem—What Problem?

C.English Club

D.News Program

E.Teen Dreams

My name is Rose. Today is my first 1 at my new school. 

My mother bought a blue 2 for me. There are some books, a pencil case and a notebook in 3 . My lunch box is in it, too. Because I need to have lunch at 4 . 

I'm in Class 2, Grade 7. There are 30 students in my class. And my 5 is on the first floor of the teaching building. 6 we don't need to go upstairs for class. The 7 is next to the teaching building. So it's 8 for us to read books there. 

Jenny Brown is my Chinese teacher. She is our class teacher, too. She is about 25 years old and she is a very 9 teacher. After class, she lets me go to her office and 10 me some questions like"11 do you feel?" and"Do you need my help?". She also 12 , " If you meet any problems, come to me or 13 me. This is my telephone number. "

Anna is my first 14 here. She is very friendly and 15 to me. She says hello to me to make me feel good and tells me many things about the school and teachers. I'm happy to be friends with her. I like the new school and people here.