英国的牛津和法国的格雷诺布尔有什么相似之处？它们都是中等大小的城镇，人口在10万到20万之间。它们都拥有大学和工业。旅游业对这两个城镇来说都很重要，而且它们都靠近该地区一些最漂亮的乡村。但是它们还有其他共同之处：它们之间有一个姐妹城市协议。

　　姐妹城市不是一个新的想法，但是近几年它变得更受欢迎，因为现在更容易了解和参观其他的国家和城镇。它是那些规模和年代相似的城镇或城市之间的协议，它们有相似的特征，如旅游业、工业、文化和娱乐。

　　Town twinning agreements encourage⑧ people from the two towns to visit each other. There are visits and exchanges⑨ between schools, theatre groups and sports teams. Visitors from the foreign town usually stay in the private homes of the town they are visiting⑩. There is usually a big party for the visitors.

　　Town twinning agreements are perhaps most⑪ useful for students and people who want to practise⑫ speaking another language⑬ . This is because⑭ living with a foreign family for one or two weeks means⑮ that you have to speak their language, and as a result⑯ you improve⑰ fast.

　　⑧encourage sb. to do sth.鼓励某人做某事

　　⑨exchange/Iks'tʃeIndʒ/n.交换　in exchange for作为......的交换

　　⑩they are visiting是定语从句，修饰the town，从句中省略了作宾语的关系代词that或which。

　　⑪most此处相当于very。

　　⑫practise v．练习　practise doing sth.练习做某事

　　⑬who want to practise speaking ...是who引导的定语从句，修饰students and people。

　　⑭This is because ...这是因为......

　　⑮mean v．意思是　mean to do 打算做......

　　mean doing意味着做......

　　⑯as a result结果　as a result of 由于　⑰improve v．改善；改进

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姐妹城市协议鼓励来自这两个城镇的人们参观彼此的城镇。在学校、剧团以及体育团