Britain's Buckingham Palace has opened its doors, giving tourists the chance to visit the inside of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ's official residence(住所)．Each year when the Queen is on holiday in Scotland，thousands of visitors go to the palace in the heart of London to admire the impressive beauty of the State Rooms and the Royal Collection Exhibition.

This year，tourists get to see the largest－ever show of the Queen's evening dresses and personal jewellery.To mark her 80th birthday in April,80 dresses dating from the 1940s to the present day are on show，filling the Ball Supper Room with bright colours.

The  brightly  shining dresses，made  for  occasions such as banquets，state visits and family events，give_an_insight_into how the changing fashions have influenced on Queen Elizabeth's style through the years.They include a silver full－length dress decorated with sequins，beads，pearls and artificial diamonds.It was worn during the 1972 state visit to France.

Among the priceless jewellery on display are private gifts to the Queen from members of her family，and famous pieces such as the Cambridge Emerald Necklace, made for Queen Mary's coronation(加冕)in 1911.

Queen Elizabeth and members of the royal family are on a cruise around the Western Isles of Scotland before heading to Balmoral Castle，which was purchased by Queen Victoria and remains the royals' favourite British place for summer holidays.

1. The author writes the passage mainly to ________.

A. introduce the Royal Collection Exhibition

B. stress the importance of the famous palace

C. persuade you to visit the beautiful palace

D. tell you the story of the royal family

2. The tourists can see the following in Buckingham Palace this year EXCEPT ________.

A. the beauty of the State Rooms

B. the Royal Collection Exhibition

C. Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ

D. the Queen's evening dresses

3. The underlined part “give an insight into”in Paragraph 3 can be best replaced by “________”．

A. widen          B. remove

C. reflect          D. weaken

4. What has a great effect on Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ's dressing style?

A. The changing popular styles.

B. The private gifts.

C. The visitors' different opinions.

D. State requirements.

5. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The Royal Collection Exhibition is held in winter.

B. The oldest dress on show was made over 60 years.

C. The jewellery was all bought to match the Queen's dresses.

D. People can visit the Queen's living room in summer.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Ludgate Hill, EC4

Underground: St. Paul’s; Bus: 6, 8, 11, 15, 22, 25

Open: Daily 8:00-19:00 (17:00 from Oct. to Mar.)

Entrance free

Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul’s Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is an inescapable attraction for all travellers to this great city and the most recognisable gothic cathedral in England. Its choir（唱诗班）is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981.

Buckingham Palace

South end of the Mall (SW1)

Underground: St. James’s Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park; Bus: 2, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 38, 52, 73, 74, 137

Buckingham Palace is Queen Elisabeth II’s official residence（住所）, and has been the official residence of Britain’s monarch（君主）since 1837. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opening to the public for the Annual Summer Opening, in August and September, since 1993. The Queen is not at Buckingham Palace when it is open to the public; she goes to one of her country residences. The State Rooms are extremely grand. You can see many of the treasures of the Royal Collection: paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto; and beautiful examples of English and French furniture.

The Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3

Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78

Open: Mon.— Sat.9:00-18:00; Sun.8:00-19:00

Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory（瞭望台）. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels. Only by going inside can you experience nearly a thousand years of history and hear the myths and legends that make it “a day out to die for”.

Westminster Abbey

Broad Sanctuary, SW1

Underground: Westminster, St James’s Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503

Open: Daily 8:00-18:00 (Mar. — Dec., Tuesday till 20:00)

Entrance free

Located next to the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London, Westminster Abbey is a gothic church and place of worship. The building of the present Abbey was started by King Henry III in 1245. The oldest parts of the building date back to 1050. Westminster Abbey has hosted many royal weddings including the wedding of The Queen and Prince Philip in 1947 and the wedding of Prince William and Kate in 2011. It is a traditional place of coronation（加冕礼）and burial for English monarchs—38 monarchs have been crowned at the Abbey. There are many tombs there, including those of Queen Elizabeth I, “Bloody” Queen Mary, naturalist Charles Darwin, many poets and writers.

1.You can see the inside of all the buildings all the year around except ______.

A. St. Paul’s Cathedral                        B. the Tower of London 

C. Westminster Abbey                        D. Buckingham Palace

2.The two places you can visit by getting off at the same underground station are ______.

A. Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey     

B. Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral

C. Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London   

D. the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral

3.Where is the text most probably taken from?

A. A history book about London.            

B. A guidebook for visitors to London.

C. A book about London’s development.     

D. A book about London’s churches.

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. 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 a 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.
53. The passage is intended to _________.
A. recommend some free scenic spots to tourists       
B. help visitors save money while visiting Ireland
C. advise travelers how to choose art articles      D. tell readers London’s wonderful history
54. If you visit some museums in London in the evening, you ________.
A. can see all the artworks free of charge               B. have to endure the heat of the summer
C. need to pay admission for general exhibition  
D. may have a chance to enjoy some special events
55. In order to watch Changing of the Guard in summer, visitors have to _________.
A. gain access to the front gates after 11:30 a.m.
B. pay a sum of money to enter the Royal Parks
C. arrive at Buckingham Palace before 11:30 a.m.
D. come through the gates of Buchingham Palace

St. Paul’s Cathedral
Ludgate Hill, EC4
Underground: St. Paul’s; Bus: 6, 8, 11, 15, 22, 25
Open: Daily 8:00-19:00 (17:00 from Oct. to Mar.)
Entrance free
Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul’s Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is an inescapable attraction for all travellers to this great city and the most recognisable gothic cathedral in England. Its choir（唱诗班）is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981.
Buckingham Palace
South end of the Mall (SW1)
Underground: St. James’s Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park; Bus: 2, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 38, 52, 73, 74, 137
Buckingham Palace is Queen Elisabeth II’s official residence（住所）, and has been the official residence of Britain’s monarch（君主）since 1837. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opening to the public for the Annual Summer Opening, in August and September, since 1993. The Queen is not at Buckingham Palace when it is open to the public; she goes to one of her country residences. The State Rooms are extremely grand. You can see many of the treasures of the Royal Collection: paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto; and beautiful examples of English and French furniture.
The Tower of London
Tower Hill, EC3
Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78
Open: Mon.— Sat.9:00-18:00; Sun.8:00-19:00
Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory（瞭望台）. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels. Only by going inside can you experience nearly a thousand years of history and hear the myths and legends that make it “a day out to die for”.
Westminster Abbey
Broad Sanctuary, SW1
Underground: Westminster, St James’s Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503
Open: Daily 8:00-18:00 (Mar. — Dec., Tuesday till 20:00)
Entrance free
Located next to the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London, Westminster Abbey is a gothic church and place of worship. The building of the present Abbey was started by King Henry III in 1245. The oldest parts of the building date back to 1050. Westminster Abbey has hosted many royal weddings including the wedding of The Queen and Prince Philip in 1947 and the wedding of Prince William and Kate in 2011. It is a traditional place of coronation（加冕礼）and burial for English monarchs—38 monarchs have been crowned at the Abbey. There are many tombs there, including those of Queen Elizabeth I, “Bloody” Queen Mary, naturalist Charles Darwin, many poets and writers.
【小题1】You can see the inside of all the buildings all the year around except ______.

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. 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 a 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.

53. The passage is intended to _________.

 A. recommend some free scenic spots to tourists       

 B. help visitors save money while visiting Ireland

 C. advise travelers how to choose art articles      D. tell readers London’s wonderful history

54. If you visit some museums in London in the evening, you ________.

 A. can see all the artworks free of charge                B. have to endure the heat of the summer

 C. need to pay admission for general exhibition  

D. may have a chance to enjoy some special events

55. In order to watch Changing of the Guard in summer, visitors have to _________.

  A. gain access to the front gates after 11:30 a.m.

  B. pay a sum of money to enter the Royal Parks

 C. arrive at Buckingham Palace before 11:30 a.m.

 D. come through the gates of Buchingham Palace