Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can't miss. Paris The ranking for the "most romantic city" quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a cafe across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles. Venice Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas  there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival . A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone. Vienna Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city's past, the masked waltz and romance. Prague Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9thcentury, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague's famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague. Maldives There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love. In Vienna, visitors can  _  . A) go to the annual carnival. B) admire the typical French architecture. C) see the waltz in the ball season. D) take beautiful pictures of reefs.
C

Why are so many people so afraid of failure? Quite simply because no one tells us how to fail so that failure becomes an experience that will lead to growth. We forget that failure is part of the human condition and that every person has the right to fail.         Most parents work hard at either preventing failure or protecting  their children  from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards. A mother describes her child's hurriedly-made table as "perfect"! Even though it couldn't stand on uneven (not same in height) legs. Another way is to shift   blame. If John fails in science, his teacher is unfair or stupid.        The trouble with failure-prevention methods is that they leave a child unequipped for life in the real world. The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything, that no one can win all the time and that it's possible to enjoy a game even when you don't win. A child who's not invited to a birthday party, who doesn't make the honor roll or the baseball team feel terrible, of course. But parents should not offer a quick comfort prize or say "It doesn't matter" because it does. The young should be allowed to experience disappointment and be helped to master it.        Failure is never pleasurable. It hurts grown-ups and children exactly alike. But it can make a positive contribution to your life once you learn to use it. Step one is to ask  "Why did I fail?" Control the natural impulse   to blame someone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong, and how you can improve. If someone else can help, don't be shy about asking them. According to the passage, if you are facing failure, you should  _  . A) blame someone else. B) face it yourself and not ask others to help. C) forget it as soon as possible. D) think it over and find way to improve it.
D

Poems are essential to human beings. We can't live without them.  We need poems, and the fact that we consider them not worth our time, is something that leaves us impoverished  . If we don't read poems we are denying ourselves something important. Poems can help us get in touch with our- selves.   In one of those fragments   of poetry which many people know, John Donne wrote " No man is an island". He means we all live connected to one another.  But, at the same time, we all actually are islands, each occupying a consciousness different from everyone else.  How do we really know what someone else is thinking or feeling?  And, to turn it around, we should keep most of what we think and feel deep inside us, away from the scrutiny   of others. This is the province   of poetry, for it reveals what is inside a fellow human being's heart and mind. In some cases what they have to say will be important, maybe so important that it will alter your life or transform your sense of who you are and what you are capable of.   But poems are not infallible  : sometimes they can seem silly or just plain wrong. We don't have to bow down in reverence   to a poem: if we don't like what the poet is saying or how he or she is saying it, there is no reason to hide our own feelings.  If a poem doesn't seem to speak to you or me -- and we have made a serious attempt to listen -- then we are surely justified in deciding you have better things to do than to read that poem again. By saying "No man is an island", John Donne really means   _  . A) humans tend to separate from each other B) poems can keep people close C) we should focus on our inner feelings D) we can't be separated from each other
D

A 12-year old boy who donated bone marrow   to his dying sister and has raised more thanPS10,000 for charity has been named the UK's Family Hero of the Year. Adam Kerr, 12, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, also helps his mother care for his younger brother Brian, 9, who suffers from the genetic disease Fanconi's anaemia  . But it is not the first hardship that has affected young Adam. When he was just six, he donated his own bone marrow to his younger sister Helen who suffered from a rare blood disorder. Sadly she developed complications and died a few months after the operation in 2005. Adam found it very difficult to be happy after Helen's death. So he decided to start raising money in memory of Helen to help local poor children and families with bereavement  . Overall he has raised PS10,000 and he has no intentions of giving up. He organised a Fun Day to provide the money for a brother and sister from Northern Ireland to visit their sick brother having a bone marrow transplant in a London hospital. He received his award and a cheque forPS2,000 at an "Oscar's style" ceremony in London. Ms Phillips said: "Adam is an incredible young man. In his relatively short life he has faced real sadness and bad luck and yet he works tirelessly to make life better for others." The Awards were sponsored by the charity 4Children and Take a Break Magazine. Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said:"It's an honour to recognise Adam's devotion and self-sacrifice, and his bravery shows there is always reason for hope and optimism. There is so much unrecognized goodwill out there of people who do so much for others, and the inspiring winners of the Family Heroes Awards remind us how important it is for us all to do our best to make a difference in the lives of others." Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage? A) The first hardship that has affected Adam is to care for Brian. B) Adam suffers from the genetic disease Fanconi's anaemia. C) Adam is so tired that he wants to give up fund raising. D) Adam is awarded for his dedication, bravery and self-sacrifice.

D