Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer. Dear Son,   

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer. Dear Son,     How are you? How are things getting along?       I have just received your letter. My classmates and I are very interested in the pictures of Ha Long Bay that you sent me. It is surely an ideal place for holidays. I hope I will visit the Bay in some day. And of course, I think I should also tell you something about the place where I live. It is the Thames.         v The Thames is a river flowing through southern England and connecting London with the sea. The Thames has a length of 346 km. The whole of the River Thames drains a catchment area of some 12,935 square km. By the 18th century, the Thames was one of the world’s busiest waterways, as London became the centre of the British Empire. In the early 1980s, a massive flood-control device, the Thames Barrier, was built. It is closed several times a year to prevent water damage to London’s low-lying areas upstream. The water is to support the natural environment, and the community needs for water supplies to homes, industry and agriculture. The River Thames is crossed by many bridges and tunnels. On the far right is the Tower of London. The area to the west of London is normally called the Thames Valley, while east of Tower Bridge development agencies and Ministers have taken to using the term Thames Gateway. Rowing and sailing are the main sports which take place on the River Thames. There are many clubs which encourage participation in these sports and organise racing and inter-club competitions. The Thames is also an inspiration for a lot of famous authors, such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.         I enclose some pictures so that you can enjoy the picturesque scenes of the Thames.      I think that’s all for now. Please send my regards to your parents.      Yours,      Pattrick       Question 36: The text is about ____.