Jul 3, 2026, 14:35

New Prices for Visitors to Venice

威尼斯遊客新價格

Introduction

The Mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, wants to change the price for people who visit the city for one day.

威尼斯市長 Simone Venturini 想要更改一日遊客的收費。

Main Body

Now, visitors pay 10 euros. The Mayor wants to change this. On very busy days, the price may be 50 euros. This helps the city have fewer people.

目前，遊客需支付 10 歐元。市長想要更改這個價格。在非常繁忙的日子，價格可能會達到 50 歐元。這有助於減少城市的遊客數量。

The city needs 100 million euros every year to fix streets and clean the city. The Mayor says the city must pay for this. He says the government does not give enough money.

該市每年需要 1 億歐元來維修街道和清潔城市。市長表示城市必須支付這筆費用。他認為政府提供的資金不足。

Some people are angry. They say there are too many hotels and not enough local people. The Mayor says he cannot stop the number of visitors because the law does not allow it.

有些人感到憤怒。他們認為酒店過多，而當地居民太少。市長表示由於法律不允許，他無法限制遊客數量。

Conclusion

The city is working with experts to find the right prices. They are waiting for the law to change.

該市正與專家合作以找出合適的價格。他們正在等待法律變更。

Vocabulary Learning

💰 The "Money" Logic

In this text, we see a pattern for talking about costs and needs. Let's look at how to use these simple building blocks:

1. Simple Prices

Visitors pay 10 euros.
The price may be 50 euros.

The Rule: Use Pay (the person gives money) $\rightarrow$ Price (the cost of the thing).

2. Needs & Musts When something is necessary, we use these words:

Needs: "The city needs 100 million euros." (It is required).
Must: "The city must pay for this." (It is a strong obligation).

3. Quantity (Too Much / Not Enough) This is the best way to describe a problem in A2 English:

Problem	Example from Text	Meaning
Too many	Too many hotels	More than we want ❌
Not enough	Not enough money	Less than we need ❌

Quick Tip: Use "Too many" for things you can count (hotels, people) and "Not enough" for things you can't easily count (money, time).

Vocabulary Learning

visitor (n.)

A person who goes to see a place for a short time

Example:The museum has many visitors from other countries.

government (n.)

The group of people who control a city or country

Example:The government is building a new school in the town.

allow (v.)

To let someone do something

Example:My teacher does not allow phones in the classroom.

expert (n.)

A person who knows a lot about a subject

Example:We need an expert to fix the computer.

local (adj.)

From the area where you are

Example:I like to buy vegetables from the local market.

Venice Proposes Flexible Pricing for Day-Trip Entry Fees

威尼斯建議對一日遊入場費採取彈性定價

Introduction

The Mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, has suggested changing the fixed entry fee for day-trippers to a dynamic pricing system to reduce overcrowding in the city.

威尼斯市長 Simone Venturini 建議將一日遊客的固定入場費改為動態定價系統，以減少市區的過度擁擠現象。

Main Body

The city government wants to replace the current 10-euro fee with a system where prices change based on demand, potentially reaching a maximum of 50 euros during the busiest times. This strategy aims to discourage too many people from visiting at once while raising money for city maintenance, which costs about 100 million euros per year. Mayor Venturini emphasized that these costs are currently paid by local residents and tourism taxes because the Italian government and European organizations do not provide enough financial support. He also noted that waste management is more expensive because it must be done manually in the historic center.

市政府希望將目前的 10 歐元費用替換為一個根據需求變動的系統，在最繁忙的時段，最高可能達到 50 歐元。此策略旨在防止過多的人同時造訪，同時為每年約 1 億歐元的城市維護費用籌措資金。Venturini 市長強調，由於義大利政府與歐洲組織提供的財政支持不足，目前的費用均由當地居民與旅遊稅承擔。他還指出，由於歷史中心區必須以人工方式處理，導致廢棄物管理成本更高。

However, some political opponents and activists disagree with this plan. They argue that the fee treats the city like a product and does not solve the problem of the shrinking local population. Currently, there are more than 51,500 tourist beds, while the number of permanent residents has fallen below 48,000. Although the Mayor agrees that residents need more support, he asserted that official population numbers are too low because they do not include students and seasonal workers. Furthermore, while some want a strict limit on the number of daily visitors, the Mayor maintains that this is not allowed under current Italian law. Therefore, he has contacted the tourism minister to change the special laws governing Venice.

然而，部分政治對手與活動人士並不贊同此計劃。他們認為這種收費將城市視為產品，且無法解決當地人口萎縮的問題。目前，遊客床位超過 51,500 個，而永久居民人數已跌至 48,000 人以下。儘管市長同意居民需要更多支持，但他堅稱官方人口數據過低，因為未將學生與季節性工人計算在內。此外，雖然有人希望嚴格限制每日遊客數量，但市長堅持根據現行義大利法律是不允許的。因此，他已聯繫旅遊部長，請求修改管理威尼斯的特別法律。

Conclusion

The city is now working with researchers to decide the price levels, while they wait for the government to approve the legal changes.

市政府目前正與研究人員合作決定定價水平，同時等待政府批准法律修改。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡ The 'Connector' Leap: Moving from A2 to B2

At the A2 level, you likely use and, but, and because. To hit B2, you need Complex Logical Links. The article provides a perfect map for this evolution.

🛠️ The Upgrade Path

Instead of using simple words, look at how the text connects ideas to create professional arguments:

Instead of 'But' $\rightarrow$ Use However:
- Example: "However, some political opponents... disagree."
- B2 Logic: Use this at the start of a sentence to signal a complete shift in perspective.
Instead of 'And' $\rightarrow$ Use Furthermore:
- Example: "Furthermore, while some want a strict limit..."
- B2 Logic: This doesn't just add information; it adds weight to an argument.
Instead of 'So' $\rightarrow$ Use Therefore:
- Example: "Therefore, he has contacted the tourism minister..."
- B2 Logic: This creates a formal cause-and-effect relationship, making you sound more academic.

🧠 Strategic Contrast: The "While" Pivot

Notice the sentence: "Currently, there are more than 51,500 tourist beds, while the number of permanent residents has fallen..."

In B2 English, 'while' is not just for time (e.g., "I slept while it rained"). It is used as a Contrast Tool. It allows you to put two opposing facts in one sentence to highlight a problem. This is the secret to sounding fluent and analytical.

🚀 Vocabulary Shift: Precision Verbs

Stop using "say" for everything. The article uses Reporting Verbs that tell us the mood of the speaker:

Suggested (Idea/Proposal) $\rightarrow$ "suggested changing the fee"
Emphasized (Strong importance) $\rightarrow$ "emphasized that these costs..."
Asserted (Confident claim) $\rightarrow$ "he asserted that official population numbers..."
Maintains (Holding a position despite opposition) $\rightarrow$ "the Mayor maintains that this is not allowed"

Vocabulary Learning

dynamic (adj.)

Changing or progressing according to the situation or demand.

Example:The airline uses dynamic pricing, so ticket costs increase as the flight fills up.

overcrowding (n.)

A situation where too many people are in one place at the same time.

Example:The city is implementing new laws to prevent overcrowding in the historic district.

discourage (v.)

To try to prevent something from happening by making it seem difficult or unpleasant.

Example:High taxes on cigarettes are designed to discourage people from smoking.

maintenance (n.)

The process of keeping something in good condition through regular care and repair.

Example:The old bridge requires constant maintenance to remain safe for drivers.

emphasized (v.)

To give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing.

Example:The teacher emphasized the importance of reviewing the vocabulary before the exam.

asserted (v.)

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Example:The lawyer asserted that his client was innocent despite the evidence.

governing (v./adj.)

Having an official control over a region, group, or set of rules.

Example:The committee is responsible for governing the rules of the competition.

Proposed Implementation of Dynamic Pricing for Venice Day-Tripper Access Fees

建議為威尼斯一日遊遊客實施動態定價入場費

Introduction

The Mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, has proposed a transition from a fixed access fee to a dynamic pricing model for day-trippers to mitigate urban congestion.

威尼斯市長 Simone Venturini 建議將一日遊遊客的入場費由固定價格轉為動態定價模式，以減輕城市擁擠。

Main Body

The municipal administration seeks to replace the current 10-euro last-minute reservation fee with a surge-pricing mechanism, potentially increasing charges to a ceiling of 50 euros during peak demand periods. This fiscal strategy is intended to disincentivize overcrowding while generating revenue for the city's physical maintenance, which the Mayor estimates at 100 million euros annually. According to Mayor Venturini, these costs are currently borne by local residents and tourism taxes due to a lack of financial contributions from the Italian state or European entities. The Mayor further noted that the manual nature of waste management in the historic center exacerbates these expenditures.

市政當局尋求將目前的 10 歐元最後一刻預約費替換為高峰定價機制，在需求高峰期，費用可能會增加至上限 50 歐元。這項財政策略旨在抑制過度擁擠，同時為城市的實體維護籌措資金，市長估計年度維護費為 1 億歐元。根據 Venturini 市長的說法，由於缺乏義大利國家或歐洲實體的財政貢獻，這些成本目前由當地居民和旅遊稅承擔。市長進一步指出，歷史中心區垃圾管理的人工性質加劇了這些支出。

Institutional and social opposition to the fee persists. Activists and political opponents contend that the measure commodifies the city and fails to address the demographic shift in the historic center, where the number of tourist beds (exceeding 51,500) now surpasses the registered resident population (below 48,000). While the Mayor acknowledges the need for further residential stabilization, he asserts that official population figures are understated due to unregistered seasonal workers and students. Furthermore, while opposition figures have advocated for a quantitative cap on daily visitors, the Mayor maintains that such a restriction is currently prohibited under existing Italian law. The implementation of this dynamic system would necessitate a formal amendment to the special law governing Venice, a matter the Mayor has initiated with the tourism minister.

機構與社會對該項費用的反對依然存在。活動人士與政治對手主張，此舉將城市商品化，且未能解決歷史中心區的人口結構轉移問題，目前該區的遊客床位（超過 51,500 個）已超過登記居民人口（低於 48,000 人）。雖然市長承認需要進一步穩定居民人口，但他堅稱，由於未登記的季節性勞工與學生，官方人口數字被低估了。此外，儘管反對派主張對每日遊客人數設定數量上限，但市長維持認為目前的義大利法律禁止此類限制。實施該動態系統將需要正式修訂管理威尼斯的特別法，市長已就此事與旅遊部長啟動協商。

Conclusion

The city is currently collaborating with researchers to establish pricing thresholds, pending legislative approval for the proposed fee adjustments.

市政府目前正與研究人員合作制定定價門檻，等待立法部門批准擬議的費用調整。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Nominalization and 'Dense' Lexis

To move from B2 to C2, a student must stop describing actions and start describing concepts. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) and adjectives (qualities) into nouns. This shifts the focus from who is doing what to the abstract systemic phenomena occurring.

⚡ The 'C2 Pivot': From Process to Concept

Observe the transformation from a B2-style sentence to the C2-level prose found in the article:

B2 (Action-Oriented): "The Mayor wants to change how much people pay because the city is too crowded."
C2 (Conceptual/Nominalized): "...a transition from a fixed access fee to a dynamic pricing model... to mitigate urban congestion."

In the C2 version, 'mitigate urban congestion' acts as a singular, complex conceptual block. The verb 'mitigate' doesn't just mean 'reduce'; it implies a strategic, measured intervention. 'Urban congestion' replaces the simple 'too crowded,' shifting the register from a complaint to a sociological observation.

🛠️ Dissecting High-Density Collocations

The text employs what we call "lexical density." Note how specific nouns are modified by highly precise adjectives to create professional-grade precision:

"Fiscal strategy" $\rightarrow$ Not just a 'plan for money,' but a formal, systemic approach to revenue.
"Commodifies the city" $\rightarrow$ This is the pinnacle of C2 vocabulary. To commodify is to treat something intrinsic or spiritual as a mere product for sale. It carries a heavy critical connotation that 'selling' does not possess.
"Residential stabilization" $\rightarrow$ A euphemism for 'stopping people from leaving.' In C2 English, abstract nouns often mask raw realities to maintain a formal, diplomatic tone.

🎓 The 'C2 Syntax' takeaway

To replicate this, avoid the Subject $\rightarrow$ Verb $\rightarrow$ Object simplicity. Instead, build Noun Phrases that carry the weight of the sentence:

"The implementation of this dynamic system would necessitate a formal amendment..."

Breakdown:

The implementation (Noun/Subject) $\rightarrow$ replaces "Implementing this..."
would necessitate (Precise Verb) $\rightarrow$ replaces "would need..."
a formal amendment (Noun/Object) $\rightarrow$ replaces "to change the law formally..."

Verdict: C2 mastery is not about 'big words,' but about the structural displacement of action in favor of abstraction.

Vocabulary Learning

mitigate (v.)

To make something less severe, serious, or painful.

Example:The new urban planning strategy aims to mitigate the effects of extreme traffic congestion in the city center.

disincentivize (v.)

To discourage someone from doing something by making it less attractive or more costly.

Example:Higher taxes on sugary drinks are designed to disincentivize the consumption of unhealthy beverages.

borne (v.)

Past participle of 'bear'; to carry the weight of a cost or responsibility.

Example:The financial burden of the reconstruction was borne entirely by the local municipality.

exacerbates (v.)

To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.

Example:The lack of public transport only exacerbates the existing pollution levels in the metropolis.

commodifies (v.)

To treat something as a mere commodity or a product to be bought and sold, often stripping it of its intrinsic value.

Example:Critics argue that the commercialization of national parks commodifies nature for the sake of profit.

necessitate (v.)

To make something necessary as a result or requirement.

Example:The sudden increase in population will necessitate the construction of new healthcare facilities.

Practice All words in a crossword→