Visitors to Quebec City might think they've somehow landed in France. The city began in 1608 as a fort established3 by a French explorer. Today， it's the oldest European-built city in the Americas. Stylish4 and charming，5 Quebec City captures the hearts of visitors with its lovely French atmosphere.

　　Quebec City is a proud center of French-language theater and music. The French language is protected by law here. All signs， for example， must show French in larger letters than English. But whatever language you speak， mid-winter is the best time to visit Quebec City. That's when the city hosts the world's biggest winter celebration.

　　想像你正坐在圣罗伦斯河河畔，一对情侣手挽着手走过，用法语低声地情话绵绵。

　　不久后，你漫步于鹅卵石铺成的窄巷小弄间，咖啡与刚出炉的法国面包的香味扑鼻而来。芳堤娜城堡饭店矗立在远方，它那青铜色的屋顶在阳光下闪闪发亮。来到魁北克市的游客可能会有置身于法国的错觉。魁北克市兴起于公元1608年，刚开始只是个由法国探险家所建立的要塞。今日，在美洲所有由欧洲人建立的城市里，魁北克市的历史最为悠久。既时尚又迷人的魁北克市，以其浪漫的法式风情掳获了观光客的心。魁北克市以身为法语戏剧和音乐的中心而自豪。在这里，法语甚至受到法律的保护。举例来说，所有招牌上的法文字样都必须比英文来得大。然而不管你说什么语言，入冬时节正是造访魁北克市的最佳时机，因为魁北克市主办了全世界最盛大的冬季嘉年华。

　　1. whisper v. to speak very quietly so others cannot hear you 低声说话；窃窃私语 Kim whispered her terrible secret into Marie's ear. 金凑近玛莉的耳朵，低声说出她的天大秘密。

　　2. magnificent adj. impressive， beautiful， and amazing 壮观的 Taiwan's Cloud Gate dance group puts on magnificent performances. 台湾舞团《云门舞集》的表演令人惊艳。

　　3. establish v. to make sth. exist 建立 Bill established his computer company in 1979. 比尔在1979年创立了自己的电脑公司。

　　4. stylish adj. fashionable 时　的 Kelly reads a lot of fashion magazines and enjoys wearing stylish clothes. 凯莉看很多流行杂志，也喜欢穿时髦的衣服。

　　5. charming adj. very attractive 迷人的 Ray took Sunny on a date to a charming little restaurant by the sea. 雷带桑妮到一家靠海的迷人小餐厅约会。

　　Quebec City is beautiful and historic，1 but winter there is long and cold. In 1894， the people of Quebec first organized a carnival2 to warm their spirits in mid-winter. Today， the Quebec Carnival remains a celebration of the city's food， culture， and， most of all， its fun. The carnival is a giant winter playground. Try racing down a snowy hill on a long sled Canadians call a “toboggan.” For adventure3 seekers， there are dogsled races or the snow bath： People roll

　　around in the snow in their swimming suits！ There is also a real hotel made of ice. Like Quebec in winter， the hotel is cold outside， but warm inside. The carnival is also a great place to try Canadian foods. Don't miss out on the maple candy （hot maple syrup poured4 onto snow） and caribou meat！ Most popular of all is Bonhomme， the carnival's mascot. This big， friendly snowman is warm， perfect for hugging， and sure to wish you， 　oyeux carnaval！

　　魁北克市拥有美丽的市景与悠久的历史，但那里的冬季漫长又寒冷。

　　1894年，魁北克的居民首度发起嘉年华活动，期望在寒冬中鼓舞大家的精神。一直到今天，魁北克冬季嘉年华依旧是当地的重大庆典，结合了美食、文化，以及最重要的乐趣。整场嘉年华会是一座大型的冬季游乐场。不妨试着从皑皑山坡上滑着加拿大人称作“toboggan”的长形雪橇一路往下冲。追求冒险刺激的人，可以参加狗拉雪橇比赛，或泡个“冰雪澡”──穿着泳衣泳裤，在雪地里尽情打滚！甚至还有一座真正用冰块打造而成的旅馆呢！这个旅馆和冬日的魁北克一样，外表看来寒冷，内部却很温暖。嘉年华会也是品尝加拿大美食的好去处。千万别错过了枫糖卷冰（热的枫糖浆倒入雪中而成）以及驯鹿肉。最受欢迎的是博纳雪人，也就是嘉年华会的亲善大使。这个高大而友善的雪人非常温暖，是个拥抱的好对象，当然他也会祝你在嘉年华玩得愉快！

　　1. historic adj. important because of events that happened in the past 具有历史意义的 Tainan is a very old city， and it has many historic buildings. 台南是座非常古老的城市，有许多历史悠久的建筑。

　　2. carnival n. a fair or festival 嘉年华会 The children had fun riding the rides at the summer carnival. 孩子们在夏季嘉年华会里玩游乐设施玩得很尽兴。

　　3. adventure n. an exciting journey or experience 冒险 For a real adventure， you should travel across Asia by train. 如果你想来趟真正的冒险，应该坐火车横跨亚洲大陆旅行。

　　4. pour v. to make a liquid flow out of a container 倒注（液体等） Carrie's coffee was very strong， so she poured some milk into it. 凯莉的咖啡太浓了，所以她倒了一些牛奶进去。