A：Isn't it wonderful to take a walk here？

B：What do you mean？

A：I mean one can look at all these magnificent tall buildings around him.

B：You mean the skyscrapers？Do you really think you can like them？Don't you think it's a bit suffocating to stand under them？

A：Not as an occasional visitor.It'd be a different story，of course，if one should have to be here every day.

B：Look at that building across the street from us.That's the Empire State.It stands at 102 stories high.

A：I know the name.It's quite famous but don't you think it looks a bit old－fashioned as compared with some others？

B：You're right and it's no longer the tallest building in New York now.

A：What other important buildings are we going to see on Fifth Avenue？

B：Quite a number.Actually every skyscraper has a history.A few blocks ahead we'll see St.Patrick's Cathedral at E50th Street and just across the street will be the world－renowned Rockefeller Center.It's a landmark in the history of architecture.

A：What's there after that？

B：We'll then be standing at where the Central Park begins.

Facing the park on Fifth Avenue are probably the most expensive apartments in the world.

A：I don't think we'll be able to visit the inside of the those apartments.But what are all these skyscrapers for？

B：Mostly they are office buildings and huge departmentstores.New York is a financial center of the world，isn't it？