Switzerland's third largest city, Geneva, is located in the Rhone Valley at the southwestern corner of Lake Geneva between the Jura Mountains and the Alps. It's the capital of the canton of Geneva, the second smallest canton in the Swiss Confederation.

Geneva has an idyllic setting on the biggest alpine lakes and within view of the pinnacle of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe. Filled with parks and promenades, the city becomes a virtual garden in the summer. It's also one of the healthiest cities in the world thanks to prevailing north winds that blow away all air pollution.

The city covers itself in flowers. Even if you just walk its streets and lakeshore for days on end -- those flowers are everywhere and the Lake Geneva is clear and picturesque.

Geneva is surrounded by French territory, connected to Switzerland only by the lake and a narrow corridor. The city's overwhelming French influence in apparent in its mansard roofs, iron balconies, sidewalk cafes, and French signs.

But if the city seems a little staid, perhaps it's because it contemplates the fate of the planet on a daily basis. Switzerland hasn't seen a war for over 300 years; Geneva hosts hundreds of humanitarian and scientific agencies. It was home to the League of Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations. The UN still maintains an office here. The International Red Cross is here. So are the World Health Organization and the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

瑞士的第三大城市日内瓦位于猪猡山区和阿尔卑斯山之间日内瓦湖西南角的罗纳河谷。它是瑞士联邦中第二小的州——日内瓦州的首府。

日内瓦位于阿尔卑斯山地的最大湖畔，湖周风景如画，在日内瓦可以看到欧洲最高峰——勃朗峰的顶峰。城市里有很多公园和散布场所，夏季整个城市实际上就是一个花园。日内瓦是世界上最健康的城市之一，这得益于频繁的北风，它吹走了所有受污染的空气。

这个城市处在花的海洋之中。即使你连续几天都到街道和湖畔散步，你也会发现到处都是花，日内瓦湖既干净又景色宜人。

日内瓦被法国领土包围，与瑞士仅通过湖泊和一条狭窄的通道相连。它不可避免地受到法国的影响，尤其表现在双重斜坡的屋顶、铁艺阳台、露天咖啡屋和法国招牌上面。

如果说这个城市看起来有一点儿深沉，那可能是因为它每天都在思考地球的命运。瑞士已经有300多年没经历过战争了，日内瓦创建了数百家人道主义和科学机构。它是联合国的前身——国际联盟所在地。现在联合国仍有驻日内瓦的办事处。国际红十字会、国际卫生组织和欧洲核子研究中心也都设在这里。

canton n. 瑞士的州

pinnacle n. 山顶，山峰

picturesque adj. 风景如画的

contemplate vt. 思忖，思量

predecessor n. 前身

idyllic adj. 田园诗的

promenade n. 散步场所

Todd被公司派到日内瓦出差，在此期间他顺便花了一天时间去参观这个城市，回来后妻子Lenna 询问起了他的旅程。

L = Lenna 蕾= 蕾娜 T= Todd 托=托德

L: Did you enjoy your trip that day?

T: Sure, especially walking in the Old Town. The cobbled Old Town is atmospheric but strangely austere. At the heart of the city is the huge Cathedrale St. Pierre, and packed in all around are an array of top-class museums, including the giant Musee d'Art et d'Histoire and an impressive gallery of East Asian art, the Collections Baur.

L: I like this kind of town, with artistic atmosphere.

T: People in the town told me I should go to see Jet d'Eau if I visit Geneva. So I also went there. It is in the Lake Geneva.

L: Why did they give you such advice?

T: Because Jet d'Eau is the man-made fountain spraying highest water in Europe at present. Everywhere in Geneva could see its magnificent scene. So it becomes the most representative view of Geneva, and the sign of this city.

L: Really? Next time I'll go there, too.

蕾：那天的旅途愉快吗？

托：当然，特别是在旧城区里漫步。石子铺成的旧区艺术氛围浓厚，却出奇地简朴。城区中心是雄伟的圣皮埃尔大教堂，周围是一排代表着最高水平的博物馆，包括庞大的美术历史博物馆和令人印象深刻的东亚艺术走廊——鲍尔收藏馆。

蕾：我喜欢这种有艺术氛围的小镇。

托：那里的人告诉我，一定要去看大喷泉，所以我就去参观了位于日内瓦湖的大喷泉。

蕾：为什么给你这样的建议呢？

托：因为大喷泉是欧洲目前喷水最高的人工喷泉，从日内瓦各地都可以望得见其壮观景象。大喷泉成了日内瓦最具代表性的景观，也是这个城市的标志。

蕾：真的吗？下次我也要去那儿。

austere adj. 简朴的

artistic adj. 艺术的

giant adj. 巨大的

representative adj. 代表性的

假设你刚从日内瓦参加国际会议回来，有外国朋友对你的旅程很感兴趣，想要你介绍一下日内瓦。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国朋友：Does the city have any French influence?

你：____________________________________________

2. 外国朋友：Did you go to the Old Town of it? How is it?

你：____________________________________________

3. 外国朋友： What else sights did you visit?

你：_______________________________________________

1. Yes, the influence is overwhelming.

2. Yes. It is atmospheric with many famous museums.

3. Jet d'Eau. It's the most representative view of Geneva, and the sign of this city.

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