More than three hundred years ago, the Russian Czar Peter the Great built a new capital - St Petersburg on the Neva River (涅瓦河) in Russia.Peter the Great, like his country, was strong and proud. Many great and beautiful palaces were built during his lifetime.

　　St Petersburg has been the centre of many important events in history.In 1941, the Germans tried to destroy the city.It was under attack for 900 days, but the people of the city never gave in.The Germans burned many of the palaces as they left.St Petersburg was almost in ruins.

　　When the Nazis had gone, the people of St Petersburg began to rebuild the city.It was not easy.Painters and works had to be very careful to save the palaces and buildings without destroying their old beauty.Now after years of hard work, the old palaces have been made as wonderful as in the past.Today Peter the Great on his bronze horse can once again look out over the city he built.

　　St Petersburg is legendary for its White Nights：those long summer days when the sun barely dips below the horizon.Revels start in May, when the city finally succumbs to spring and the parks are filled with flowering trees.But even when the skies are grey and the ground is covered in snow, the rich culture of St Petersburg dazzles and delights.,

　　[阅读障碍词]

　　1．event n．事件；大事

　　2．destroy vt.破坏；毁坏；消灭

　　3．be under attack遭受攻击

　　4．give in屈服；让步

　　5．in ruins严重受损；破败不堪；成为废墟

　　6．beauty n．美；美人

　　7．bronze n．铜；青铜

　　8．look out over俯视

　　9．revel n．狂欢，欢宴

　　10．succumb v．屈服，屈从；被压垮；死