☘ Discover Our City: Local Attractions

✔ City Highlights

From historical landmarks to lively parks, our city has a lot to (1) _______. You can see beautiful places and learn about the rich history (2) _______ surrounds us. Each corner of the city (3) _______ its own story.

✔ Cultural Experiences

Art lovers will find a lot to like. Visit our art galleries and museums that show local artists. Don't forget to check out (4) _______ exhibitions taking place throughout the year. You might just find your new favorite piece!

✔ Dining Options

Food lovers will enjoy our range of food choices. There are lots of restaurants with both traditional and modern dishes. If you want something simple, try one of the (5) _______ around town.

✔ Outdoor Activities

(6) _______ you love being outside, the city has nice parks for a picnic or a walk. Remember to respect the environment by keeping these spaces clean.

1. Have you ever felt a sudden feeling of joy because you heard a favorite song playing? Then you know that music can have a strong effect on your emotions. Try to take advantage of this power of music. It can help get you out of a bad mood or stay in a good mood, says Alicia Ann Clair, professor of music therapy at the University of Kansas. Music can also help you relax and feel rejuvenated.

2. To cheer up or boost your energy, listen to Latin music or anything with a strong beat, lots of percussion, and a fast tempo. When you want to relax after a busy day, music with string instruments and woodwinds, less percussion, and a slower tempo can calm you.

3. Listen to calming music before you start any stressful activities, advises Dr. Clair. “Once you're in a good state of mind, it's easier to maintain it.” You can lower stress at work with music, too, by playing relaxing tunes. But only play them when you really need them.

4. You can change your mood by switching from one kind of music to another. For example, first play some nice gentle ballads, and then listen to something more energetic. When you want to calm down after a busy week at work, just do the opposite.

(Adapted from Strategic Reading by Richards and Eckstut-Didier)

1. Two of the most common English varieties are American English and British English. However, do you know there are many more World Englishes than just these two? Below are four other widely used Englishes you may not know.

2. One common variety is Australian English, in which speakers usually use “mate” instead of “friend.” The pronunciation of /ai/ is slightly influenced by /pi/. Australian English typically has a rising intonation at the end of the sentence. Indian English is another variety. It is strongly influenced by India's native languages, thus its unique accent. One of its distinct features, like Hindi, is the absence of /w/, which is pronounced /v/ instead.

3. African English also has a special accent. The vowel /i/ is more similar to /a/, and the pronunciation is generally more fronted and rounded than other varieties. Singaporean English, or Singlish, reflects the country's multiculturalism as it is a mixture of English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Speakers of this variety commonly use “lah” or “lor” for emphasis or affirmation. The consonant /ð/ is often pronounced /d/ (e.g., /fɑːdə/ instead of /ˈfɑː.ðə/).

4. These are just four of millions of World Englishes currently used worldwide. Such a large number of English varieties proves the language's adaptability as a lingua franca, and the world's amazing cultural and linguistic diversity.

(Adapted from English Discovery 9 Workbook)