题目内容
American cities are similar to other cities around the world.In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture.American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased.Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts(转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society.In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents (居民) became wealthier.They had more children so they needed more space.They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes.They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).
Now things are changing.The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults.Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities.They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest.Many young professionals are moving back into the city.They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits.Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent.In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying.Some city residents now see a bright, new future .Others see only problems and conflicts.One thing is sure:many dying cities are alive again.
1.What does the author think of cities all over the world?
A.They are alive . B.They are hopeless.
C.They are similar D.They are different.
2.Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?
A.Because older American cities were dying.
B.Because they were richer and needed more space.
C.Because cities contained the worst parts of society.
D.Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.
3.According to the 4th paragragh, a great many poor people in American cities ______.
A.are faced with housing problems B.are faced to move to the suburbs
C.want to sell their buildings D.need more money for daily expenses
4.We can conclude from the text that ______.
A.American cities are changing for the worse
B.people have different views on American cities
C.many people are now moving from American cities
D.the population is decreasing in older American cities
CBAB
A painting by Chinese artist Qi Baishi set a record for modern art and calligraphy (书法) on the mainland when it sold for 425.5 million yuan at an auction (拍卖) on May 22. The sale was a milestone (里程碑) in the auction of modern and contemporary artworks.
The price meant its value had risen more than 2,000 per cent in six years . The work , Eagle standing on pine tree with four-character coupleti(对联), measures about 2.6 metres by 1 metre . It was the second highest price paid for an artwork on the mainland . A Song dynasty work by Huang Tingjian was sold for 436.8 million yuan in 2010 . Qi’s painting was finished in 1946 when Qi was 86 , and was his largest work . With a starting price of 88 million yuan , it attracted nearly 50 bids(出价)in half an hour . Shanghai businessman Liu Yiqian said that the work had belonged to him and had cost less than 20 million yuan in 2005 . The auction company said the work was brought back to the mainland after being bought from a private owner in San Francisco six years ago .
China ranked first in global art sales last year , ahead of the United States and Britain . Four Chinese artists were among the top 10 in worldwide sales : Qi Baishi , Zhang Daqian , Xu Beihong and Fu Baoshi . Qi’s works ranked second in sales to Pablo Picasso’s last year . Qi was born into a peasant family in Hunan in 1864 . He taught himself to paint and focused on nature including plants , insects , birds and fish . He is mostly well-known for his paintings of shrimps . In 1953 , he was elected president of the Association of Chinese Artists . He died in Beijing in 1957 .
1.What’s the best title of the text ?
A.Qi Baishi’s Painting Was Discovered . |
B.Qi Baishi’s Painting Was Brought Back . |
C.Qi Baishi’s Painting Sets an Auction Record . |
D.The Value of Qi Baishi’s Paintings Is on the Increase . |
2.Whose artwork sold for the highest price on the mainland ?
A.Qi Baishi’s . |
B.Huang Tingjian’s . |
C.Xu Beihong’s . |
D.Zhang Daqian’s . |
3.The auction price of Qi’s painting was million yuan higher than the starting price in the auction .
A.337.5 . |
B.348.8 . |
C.50 . |
D.11.3 . |
4.Which of the following is TRUE ?
A.Qi finished the painting when he was young . |
B.The painting was once stolen by an American . |
C.The owner of this painting Liu Yiqian gained a lot of money . |
D.Pablo Picasso’s works ranked second in sales to Qi’s last year . |
5. The text is most probably taken from a .
A.computer book |
B.library guide |
C.technology magazine |
D.newspaper report |
I travel a lot, and I find out different "styles" (风格) of directions every time 1 ask "How can I get to the post office?"
Foreign tourists are often confused (困惑) in Japan because most streets there don't have names in Japan, people use landmarks (地标) in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, "Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop."
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat; in many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, "Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile."
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance in time, not miles. "How far away is the post office?" you ask. "Oh," they answer, "it's about five minutes from here." You say, "Yes, but how many miles away is it?" They don't know.
It's true that a person doesn't know the answer to your question sometimes. What happens in such a situation? A New Yorker might say, 'Sorry, I have no idea." But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers "I don't know." People in Yucatan believe that "I don't know" is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
1. When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place they usually _________
A.describe the place carefully |
B.show him a map of the place |
C.tell him the names of the streets |
D.refer to recognizable buildings and places |
2.What is the place where people measure distance in time?
A.New York. |
B.Los Angeles. |
C.Kansas. |
D.Iowa |
3.People in Yucatan may give a tourist a wrong answer ________
A.in order to save time |
B.as a test |
C.so as to be polite |
D.for fun |
4. Which sentence is true according to the text?
A.There is no street names in Japan. |
B.There is no landmarks in the countryside of American. |
C.People in Yucatan always give wrong answers when asked the way. |
D.People in Los Angeles measure distance in time, not miles when asked the way. |
5. What can we infer from the text?
A.It's important for travelers to understand cultural differences. |
B.It's useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly. |
C.People have similar understandings of politeness. |
D.New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors. |