Reading Smart: Unit 49

 Section 2---Unit 49 Travel

Winter Fun in Budapest

When deciding where to go for some winter-holiday cheer, many Europeans are heading to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. During Christmas, exciting celebrations take place there. Beyond that, Budapest is a beautiful city that must be seen in one's lifetime.

December in Budapest is a time for Christmas markets, and the most famous one is in Vörösmarty Square. Walking along the dozens of wooden stalls selling traditional items, you'll come across locally made Christmas- tree decorations, jewelry, and fur hats and slippers.

Your appetite will be tickled by the scent of Hungarian foods sold at 10 the market. Roasted meats, stuffed cabbage rolls, and lángosok are some local favorites. Wash it all down with warm cider, and for dessert, try some crispy, oven-baked chimney cake.

At night, visitors can watch images of Santa and giant snowflakes dance across the surface of a white-marble building. This light show, along with puppet shows and live musical performances, makes the Christmas market in Budapest a memorable experience.

Budapest's City Park is another place to go for winter fun. It has huge lake that is used for boating in the summer and ice-skating in the winter. Visitors can rent skates and enjoy the view of Vajdahunyad Castle as they glide across the ice.

Besides skating, the park also offers one of the best and largest thermal baths in Europe. Széchenyi Spa Baths contain indoor baths and three big outdoor pools. Built in 1913, it shows the importance of baths in Hungarian culture. In fact, the first baths in Hungary were built over two thousand years ago by the Romans.

These highlights only scratch the surface of the richness of Budapest. It's one of the most charming cities in Europe, and visitors there will surely be impressed.

Reading Comprehension

(   ) 1. What contribution did the Romans make to Hungarian culture?

(A) They built the first baths in Hungary.

(B) They built Vajdahunyad Castle.

(C) They introduced certain foods to the Hungarians.

(D) They started the tradition of Christmas markets.

(   ) 2. What is the main idea of the article?

(A) The many foods you can find in winter in Budapest

(B) The fun you can have at Budapesťs City Park in winter

(C) The different ways to celebrate Christmas in Budapest

(D) What Budapest is like in winter

(   ) 3. In the article, what does the word "highlights" refer to?

(A) The parts of Budapest that are mentioned in the article

(B) The lights in the Christmas markets

(C) The high castle that you can see while ice-skating

(D) The largest thermal baths in Europe

(   ) 4. According to the article, which of the following is NOT true?

(A) You can take a thermal bath at Budapest's City Park.

(B) Many of the stalls at the Christmas markets are made with bricks.

(C) The most famous Christmas market in Budapest is in Vörösmarty Square.

(D) You can see a castle as you ice-skate on the park's lake.