Britain is a nation of drama lovers and in the land that brought you Shakespeare, you’ll never be far from some of the best and most various theatres in the world.

You could start with the shows and musicals in London’s historic “Theatreland” where 40 theatres draw your attention. Or, if Shakespeare’s more your thing, head straight to the impressive recreation of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan Globe Theatre on the south bank of the River Thames. His birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon, home to the internationally famous Royal Shakespeare Company, is also a must-see.

London is also home to the Royal Opera House where world-class opera takes place in a beautiful setting and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, the dance centre in the UK where you can catch everything from flamenco to hip-hop.

Elsewhere, the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, housed in a wonderful former Cotton Exchange building, is known for first-rate classic and modern productions, while Birmingham’s REP theatre is fully worth its reputation（名誉）as a centre for excellent drama.

Scotland’s capital is best known for the arts jamboree（艺术狂欢节）that is the yearly Edinburgh Festivals. Visit Edinburgh at any time of year and you’ll find a world-class theatre. The Edinburgh Festival Theatre has the biggest stage of any other theatre in Britain and is the place for Edinburgh’s most well-regarded shows.

Glasgow is home to Scottish Opera, the Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland. Head to the Citizens Theatre to watch the excellent contemporary（当代的）drama.

If you’re in Cardiff, a visit to the Wales Millennium Centre is a must. It hosts everything from touring West End musicals to ballets and modern dance in a high-tech building that’s worth a look in itself. If you don’t have time for a show, have a drink in the bar. Free concerts are held daily in the front hall.

Grandpa’s Investment Pays Off

When I was a student, my family went through a few rough financial years. We _______, but with much effort and many worries.

I had a pick-up truck that was _______ breaking down and the thought of the 600 km drive to school in it was a（n）_______ one. As I drove away from home one day, my uncle walked up. I stopped and he _______something onto my dashboard（仪表板）.

He leaned against the window, speaking softly. “Years ago,” he said, “when I was a _______ student myself your grandfather once did this to me. I _______ one day I would return the _______. And now I have.”

Then he _______ without looking back, and I _______ he did so in order to hide his emotions.

A few miles later I opened the __________. It contained a few bank notes. It was a gift __________ more than two decades later to a second generation; it is almost like a full circle, __________ I’m the only one who bears my grandfather’s name. The amount（金额）was not large. Twenty years ago it had been __________ to buy a full trolley of groceries，or a few tanks of fuel. At this moment it was just a（n）__________, something to express his good intentions. But my uncle was jobless at the time and I almost had no money. Therefore for both of us, it was a（n）__________ amount.

I paid it forward some years later to another poor boy with an old car, __________ the amount for inflation（通货膨胀）. As far as I can __________ that boy has been the only one I’ve told this __________ to-until now. I can only __________ that one day he will pay it forward too.

I couldn’t help but feel that Grandpa made a good __________ all those years ago.

What will cars be like in the future? Maybe we can sit in a car that can drive all by 【小题1】（it） in a few years’ time. In fact, with the rapid development of modern science and technology, the self-driving car is becoming a 【小题2】（real） on busy streets.

According to a report by Google, the world-famous search engine, its self-driving cars 【小题3】（travel） more than 700,000 miles on roads in California so far. The first self-driving car 【小题4】（make） by Google came out in 2009. There are cameras on the top of the car, 【小题5】 allow the computer in the car to draw a 3-D map of the surroundings. In addition, Google says that its self-driving cars can discover hundreds of separate 【小题6】（object）at the same time, which might be an improvement on the human driver experience. As 【小题7】 result, there will be far 【小题8】（few） traffic accidents caused by careless driving.

However, self-driving cars are much too 【小题9】（expense） right now. Scientists across the world are doing their best to bring down the costs, 【小题10】 hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost that most people can afford.

   How do you stay true to yourself when you’re surrounded by friends and families that have an opinion on everything you do? It’s not easy! 【小题1】 Here are four tips which can help you live a dynamic（充满活力的）life.

【小题2】

Stay true to yourself by listening to the only opinions that really matter-your own and those from people who believe in and encourage you. Deep down you know yourself better than anybody else.

Don’t fear.

【小题3】 The reason why most people don’t take risks, or live on the edge is the fear of what others might think of them. If you want to live the life you truly deserve, you must give up the need to be liked by everybody.

Value yourself and your choices.

When you do, others will too. Own the choices you make in your life. 【小题4】 When you believe in yourself, others will believe in you too. Show confidence in your choices, and what you stand for whether others agree or not.

Focus on appreciation.

No matter what the circumstances（环境）are, there is always something to be grateful for. All successful people ask, “What am I grateful for? How can I improve my situation and use these tough times to inspire others?” 【小题5】

These steps, if applied, will help you transform（使改变）your peace of mind, lifestyle, and productivity.