The relationship between Oxford and the universtiy,or'town and gorn'as they are known colloquially,has been one of reciprocal development,and often of tension,since the beginnings of university in the early Middle Ages.The town's origins derive from Saxon times,when is was a walled enclosure with a grid layout,probably planned.The approxi-mately square shape of that enclosure,centred on Carfax,is still discern-ible in the present-day street plan.Oxford's importance was as a settlement on a north-south trade route,protected to the south,east and west by marshes and rivers-it is named after a ford through one of the rivers.After the unification of England,when Oxford ceased to be a part of the defensive system against the Danes,it became England's third largest town,London and Winchester.
reSchool-Grade 2-A briskly told story in rhyme of a day at the beach. Setting off first by train, then bus, then bicycle (it's not clear where the bicycle comes from), a boy and his older sister finally arrive at the seashore, where they spend a glorious day in the surf and in the sand. "We're swimming-splishing, splashing-`Let's be porpoises and whales/Or pirates on a treasure hunt for mermaids' silvery scales.'" The absence of an accompanying adult is questionable, but, taken at face value, the story is sunny and upbeat. Barrette's winsome, full-page watercolor illustrations reflect the cheerful tone of the outing. 作者简介: A native of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, author Jane Barclay has been writing since she was a child; early credits include "Cinderelish", an elementary school play that involved sock puppets and very bad singing! Luckily for all, Jane's writing has matured. She is also the author of "How Cold Was It?" and "Going on a Journey to the Sea".