When studying in the UK, I was no longer puzzled about when England got Wales, Scotland and Ireland 【小题1】to it or when the southern part of Ireland broke away. The four countries 【小题2】 the UK use the same currency and military defence, but they have different legal systems. I saw much 【小题3】that showed the Great Britain was invaded by the Romans, the Vikings as well as the Normans, who left their so-called achievements and influenced the names of locations and vocabulary. There were many 【小题4】places, so I had to keep my eyes open. Later I traveled to Ireland where I found myself fascinated by the landscape. It was a feast for my eyes as if I were approaching a gallery in which I was 【小题5】with beautiful pictures. Every day I was 【小题6】with the rolling mountains dotted with sheep and cattle, the roar of the ocean and the scents of flowers. I often had a sip of wine or beer in small pubs which 【小题7】a small amount of money for their service. Once I talked about their customs with a crowd of Irish people who were interested in our Confucius philosophy, and they were 【小题8】and shared with me a snack cooked with butter and honey. The journey was so striking that I’m 【小题9】to go there again.

18th-century Grand Tour of Europe

The Grand Tour began in the 16th century and gained popularity during the 17th century. Privileged (有特权的) young European graduates 【小题1】a trend where they travelled across the continent in search of art and cultural experiences upon their graduation. This practice, which grew to be 【小题2】popular, became known as the Grand Tour. Speciality guidebooks, tour guides, and other aspects of the tourist industry were developed during this time to meet the needs of wealthy 20-something male and female travellers as they explored the European continent.

These young, classically educated Tourists were rich enough to fund multiple years abroad for themselves and they took full advantage of this. They carried letters of 【小题3】and introduction with them as they departed from southern England to communicate with and learn from people they met in other countries. Some Tourists 【小题4】to continue their education and broaden their horizons while abroad, some were just after fun and 【小题5】travels, but most desired a combination of both.

A typical journey through Europe was long and 【小题6】with many stops along the way. London was commonly used as a starting point and the Tour was usually kicked off with a difficult trip across the English Channel. Crossing the wide channel was and is not easy. Tourists in the 17th and 18th centuries risked seasickness, illness, and even shipwreck on this first 【小题7】of travel.

Grand Tourists were 【小题8】interested in visiting cities that were considered centres of culture at the time, so Paris, Rome, and Venice were not to be missed. The average Grand Tourist travelled from city to city, usually spending weeks in smaller cities and up to several months in the three 【小题9】ones.

The vast majority of Tourists took part in similar activities during their exploration with art at the centre of it all. Once a Tourist arrived at a destination, he would look for 【小题10】and settle in for anywhere from weeks to months, even years. Though certainly not an overly trying experience for most, the Grand Tour presented a unique set of challenges for travellers to overcome.

Pirates had existed for as long as man had sailed the seas. In the 1600s, the sight of the Jolly Roger would 【小题1】 fear into the hearts of even the bravest seamen, and it was at this time that they truly began to rule the 【小题2】.

The colonisation of the New World and the birth of the slave trade meant that the oceans were crowded with richly loaded merchant (商人) ships, and many men and women turned to a life of 【小题3】 on the high seas. And what a life it was! A bottle of rum (朗姆酒) at breakfast, and a day spent stalking ships and trading spoils in pirate havens.

These hives (聚居地) of villainy, hidden away on islands in the Caribbean and Indian Oceans, served as 【小题4】 sites for attacks on enemy outposts and merchant ships. Here, pirates could repair their ships away from the watchful eye of the Navy, while taverns and gambling halls provided welcome 【小题5】 for pirates who had spent months at sea.

Over the years, pirates’ lives became easier and even more lucrative. Sailors knew these bandits were skilled, well-armed, and willing to 【小题6】 it all— the chance of winning a battle with them was slim. Ships that did put up a fight were shown no 【小题7】, so their best option was to raise the white flag and surrender.

However, as the problem of piracy grew, merchant communities began to take 【小题8】 into their own hands, arming and equipping ships at their own expense to protect commerce. These ships, 【小题9】 by ‘privateers’, were licensed by the crown and could attack any enemy ship. Over time, the line between privateer and pirate became unclear.

In a world where native populations were being wiped out or bound in chains, pirate life 【小题10】 freedom and democracy. It’s easy to see why many found it hard to resist the spoils of the Golden Age of Piracy.