The right combination of bricks, mortar and plaster can be mixed to build a city, but it i

s the city's people who add that extra dimension which makes it vibrant, memorable, famous and much-visited. London is such a city, and a major exhibition about its people makes this point by pulling together paintings, drawing and prints by artists over the centuries to show Londoners from all walks of life and in all manners of setting. The capital's renowned old markets, most now gone, like Covent Garden and Billingsgate, captured the eye of painters because of the extraordinarily disparate range of characters mingling together. Processions and ceremonial events were popular subjects, although many artists were inspired by the individuals they saw: the street traders, laborers, merchants, craftsmen, society folk, servants, visiting foreigners, the very poor, the old, and the criminals. There is a book which accompanies the show and from which In Britain has chosen its illustrations. Londoners is published Thames and Hudson, 30-34 Bloomsbury street, London WC1B 3QP. Tele- phone 01-636 5488. It has 237 illustrations, 20 in color: ￡20 in hardback, ￡9.95 paperback. Available post-free direct form. the publishers to addresses overseas, or form. bookshops in the UK.

The exhibition continues until August 2 at the Museum of London. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission free.

According to the advertisements, the element which adds the real color to a city is ______.

A．the city itself

B．its inhabitants

C．the buildings

D．the markets