The modern history of Beijing When it was I'm going to talk about the capital city of my country, Beijing, and its modern history. It's located in the East of the country, close to the sea but it's not a coastal city. What happened It has an amazing history as it was the seat of many emperors but nowadays, it's a huge megacity with tall skyscrapers and is a massive business hub where most international companies have a headquarters, and it's this change that fascinates me. How you first heard about it As it's the capital of my country, I learnt about it in history classes and I remember doing a project about it in class as it is home to The Forbidden Palace, which was the home of emperors for over 500 years and is awe-inspiring. The Great Wall is just north of the city too so you can visit that and get a feel for life hundreds of years ago. And explain why you are interested in this period of history What gets me is how Beijing has changed so much in the last hundred years or so. It went from being the political center to being the business and cultural center too in a very short space of time. It's almost unrecognizable today from even 30 years ago, which to me is staggering.

I have always been fascinated by the Renaissance period, a pivotal epoch that unfolded between the 14th and 17th centuries. This era was a beacon of revitalization in art, literature, philosophy, politics, sciences, and exploration after the Dark Ages. I was first introduced to the Renaissance period during my high school history lessons, and my fascination was ignited immediately. What happened during the Renaissance was truly revolutionary. It was marked by the profound evolution of thought processes, a fervent curiosity about the world, and the blossoming of artistic and scientific innovations. It was when luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo transcended conventional boundaries, producing masterpieces that resonate even today. Leonardo da Vinci, epitomizing the Renaissance Man, delved into anatomy, mechanics, and aviation, and he painted the iconic 'Mona Lisa'. Meanwhile, Michelangelo sculpted 'David' and painted the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, imbuing them with life and emotion unparalleled in human history. This period also saw the voyages of explorers like Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama, who paved the way for the connectivity of different civilizations. This epoch intrigues me because it signifies humanity’s unwavering pursuit of knowledge, enlightenment, and aesthetic perfection. The curiosity and passion of the Renaissance thinkers and creators inspire me to question, learn, and create, and it reminds me of the boundless potentials of the human mind when driven by curiosity and passion.

• 다양한 복합 문장 구조 : 답안에는 다양한 복합 문장이 사용되었습니다. 예를 들어 "It was when luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo transcended conventional boundaries, producing masterpieces that resonate even today." 이 문장은 "like"를 사용하여 예를 나열하고, "producing"를 통해 분사구조를 형성합니다. • 다양한 시제 사용 : 답안에는 일반 과거 시제, 일반 현재 시제를 사용하여 서로 다른 시기의 상황을 설명합니다. 예를 들어 "I was first introduced to the Renaissance period during my high school history lessons," 이 문장은 일반 과거 시제를 사용합니다. • 일관성과 계층 감각 : "meanwhile," "also," "because," 등의 단어를 사용하여 답안은 좋은 일관성과 계층 감각을 보여주어 설명이 더욱 명확하고 논리적으로 보입니다. • 정확하고 풍부한 어휘 선택 : "pivotal," "beacon," "resonate" 등의 단어를 사용하여 답안은 풍부하고 정확한 어휘를 전달하여 더 생동적이고 구체적인 묘사를 제공합니다.