New Beijing, Great Olympics

The 2008 Olympic Games has been the most cheerful and anticipated(预先的) event throughout Beijing ever since Beijing was rewarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, yet the focus should be shifted from making a promise to carrying out the promise made.

  In my point of view, to bridge the gap between the promise and reality, Beijing still has a long way to go. To begin with, basic-structure construction should be the primary concern. Such basic-structures as communications and transportation system and facilities ought to draw our constant attention. For example, traffic jam has been an age-old headache in Beijing. The scene of long queues of vehicles worming their way inch by inch will surely cause great disorder, and impair the image of the city meanwhile. Next, to add charm to convenience, overall city planning is quite necessary. Time permitting, a redesign of city plan and adjustment of architectural style would provide a better environment for cultivating the characteristic, mixing oriental elegance(东方的雅致) with international greatness, will tower aloft(在高处) among surrounding architectures. To achieve such effect, Beijing shall seek opinions from first-rate architects and make an overall plan. Thirdly, quality of the population should be improved. To make an international metropolis, both “hardware” and “software” are important.

  However, Rome was not built in a day. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”, deeds speak louder than words.

What does the underlined word “metropolis” in paragraph 2 mean ?

A . suburb     B. small city    C. capital city   D. town  

Which sentence is not true according to the author’s opinion in the passage?

A. Beijing has a crowded traffic since a long time ago.

B. Experts in architecture are also important to the city’s construction.

C. In order to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has preparations to make in many ways.

D. Hardware” refers to quality of people in Beijing.

How many aspects does the author mention to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing?

A. two: basic-structure construction and people’s quality

B. three: basic-structure construction, traffic problem and overall city planning.

C. two: basic-structure construction and overall city planning

D. three: basic-structure construction, overall city planning and people’s quality.

What can be inferred from the text?

A. Beijing is going to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

B. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”is a long-term work.

C. Traffic jams will cause a lot of trouble and make people feel sick..

D. An overall city plan is to make Beijing a city with eastern and western cultures mixed together.

As China becomes increasingly urbanized (城市化), it has to find space for its urban and rural citizens as both groups become increasingly integrated. Experts suggest a possible model way may be “re-inventing” a “garden city”.

China’s mega-cities are bursting at the borders and the country is now undergoing the quickest and biggest urbanization in the history of mankind. It is estimated that by 2025, China will have 400 million more people living in its cities, raising its urban population to 900 million. Besides, new satellite towns are mushrooming on the urban fringes while city ring roads are rippling outwards into the countryside at amazing speed. Satellite maps collected by Professor Joshua Bolchover at the University of Hong Kong bring the problem sharply into focus. They track the changing rural-urban framework in the past 30 years, and suggest that cities are cruelly destroying surrounding rural land and rapidly reducing the amount of arable (可耕种的) land, which gives way to new residential blocks, new industrial zones, new financial centers and the other inevitable signs and signatures of economic growth.

This, however, is not sustainable growth pattern, especially when China has the world’s largest population to feed. So concerned urban planners are starting to note the social and physical effects of diaspora (大移居) when replaced rural communities are forced into the cities.

On the other hand, a trend of thought is gradually taking shape and this is the concept of the “garden city”, a combination of country and city that is being proposed by architects and city planners. Hua Li, from Tao Architects, is among the many professionals with such a voice. His argument is supported by a long-term study on this subject. As Hua says, the answer is to preserve patches of productive farmland within urban boundaries. Less transportation means we have fresh agricultural products at lower costs and less carbon emission in the city. And urban farmland can also be showcased for agricultural tourism and education.

The concept is already practiced at the grassroot level. Agriculture has gone into the air, up to roof and balcony in some communities in the cities. It’s common to see organic “hanging garden” on the roof of some traditional courtyard home. According to some people, the rooftop project translate to tangible (=" practical)" benefits, such as safe, nutritious vegetables, a cooler home in summer. Some say thanks to the tomatoes they plant that are natural insect killers, there’re fewer mosquitoes. Apart from these, it also contributes to better bonding with neighbors. Zhang, a doctor in Beijing, began creating his hanging garden five years ago. Since his garden became home to 30 kinds of vegetables and fruit --- all enough to feed his family, neighbors have enjoyed dropping by for a relaxing chat or just to see how well the lovely vegetables and fruit are doing.

Although people like Zhang are still rare and the greening of roof space with vegetables and fruit takes skill and energy, with more positive media exposure and advanced technology there is the prospect that garden city will become common practice in the near future. By then, cities will no longer look so gray when seen from the satellites.

1.Some experts suggest re-inventing a “garden city” because ______.

A.it is the only model way to save the cities

B.it helps stop destroying the rural areas

C.increasing urbanization takes place in China

D.China has the largest population to feed

2.What is the purpose of paragraph 2?

A.To show the experts’ concern about the increase of population.

B.To persuade people into supporting economic growth in cities.

C.To explain the reasons for the change of rural-urban framework.

D.To inform the readers of the consequences of quick urbanization.

3.In Hua Li’s opinion, a combination of country and city will ______.

A.benefit the environment and lower living costs

B.become a project that needs a long-term study

C.lead to more rural communities being replaced

D.attract more farmers to take tours in cities

4.Zhang is mentioned (Paragraph 5) to show that ______.

A.he achieves his dream to own a hanging garden

B.hanging gardens are becoming more popular

C.the garden contributes to a better neighborhood

D.he is a pioneer to practise the gardening concept

5.As for the concept of the “garden city”, the writer feels ______.

A.desperate         B.hopeful           C.disappointed       D.concerned

 

Although the weathermen’s forecasts for a month ahead are only little better than guesswork, they are now making long-term forecasts into the next century with growing confidence. The main trend in the world’s climate in the coming years will, scientists say, be a predictable result of man’s activities.

At the start of the industrial revolution nearly two centuries ago, man set off a big experiment in planetary engineering. Unaware of what he was doing, he spared no thought for the consequences. Today the possible outcome is alarmingly clear, but the experiment is unstoppable. Within the lifetime of many of us, the Earth may become warmer than it has been for a thousand years. By the middle of this century it may be warmer than it has been since the last Ice Age.

A warmer climate may seem welcome, but it could bring many dangers: damages to crops in the world’s main food-producing areas, famine(饥荒),  economic instability, civil unrest and even war.

In the much longer term, melting of the great ice-caps of Greenland and Antarctica could raise sea-levels throughout the world. The average sea-level has already risen a foot since the turn of the last century, and if the ice-caps disappear completely, it would rise by nearly 200 feet. Complete melting might take many centuries, but even a small increase in sea-level would threaten low-lying parts of the world such as the Netherlands.

44. Long-term weather forecasts beyond the year 2050 may seem strange because ____.

A. none of us will be alive then

B. weathermen can even forecast next month’s weather correctly

C. weathermen can forecast much better than they used to

D. no one can stop engineering experiments

45. Weathermen believe that our future climate will be the direct result of ____.

A. the big scientific experiment       B. clever long-term forecasts

C. the melting of the ice-caps          D. planets changing course

46. One of the results of a warmer world climate could be ____.

A. an increase in food production

B. greater co-operation between countries

C. the death of millions of people from starvation

D. a reduction in the amount of oil we use

47. Scientists are fairly sure that by the year 2050, _______.

A. the sea-level will have risen obviously

B. there will have been the Third World War

C. most countries will have been flooded

D. the polar ice-caps will have melted completely

 

Dear All,

    Happy New Year! A list of important dates for this term is attached to this letter.

    Interviews for our April and September Primary One classes will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday,18th&19th January.Now is the time to apply for admission to Peak School.

    Children are expected to weal their uniforms this term.As is usual at this time of the year,mornings at the school are quite cold and l would suggest children wear their sweaters to school.As the temperature goes up during the day,children tend to take off their outer clothes,so it is important that all sweatshirts are labeled(贴有标签).

    I have received a few requests from parents asking if their children can wear summer uniforms this term.I am of the view that all children in the school should follow the school policy and be dressed in the appropriate uniforms.In the longer term,a number of US at school have questioned the need to have a winter and summer uniform.Perhaps.with careful consideration,we can develop a uniform that will serve children for the whole academic year.

    As the foggy(多雾)mornings start to appear,a number of parents have raised concerns over the safety of those children who walk to school.  Our dark green uniforms are not particularly visible to motorists.Hopefully, the “Uniform Committee” to be set up this term will deal with this particular issue.I will keep parents informed of the channels through which views may be expressed in future newsletters.

  We still have a “No Hat,No Play” rule on the playground,so children need to ensure that they have their sunhats in school at all times.

Yours sincerely,

  P D Tunesi

    Principal

1.The letter was most probably written      

    A.when the school year ended

    B.before the new term started

    C.after kids were admitted to school

    D.after kids were interviewed

2.This letter was mainly written to      

    A.teachers    B.visitors    C.students    D.parents

3.What do we know about the present school uniforms?

    A.The school has solved the problems.

    B.They are invisible to motorists on foggy days.

    C.The school is considering changing them.

    D.There is a winter and summer school uniform.

4.We can infer from the text that      

    A.the school has strict rules on uniforms

    B.kids can’t have classes without wearing hats

    C.parents are satisfied with the uniforms

    D.most kids walk to school on foggy mornings

 

 

Over the last 25 years, British society has changed a great deal. In some ways, however, very little has changed. Ideas about social class whether a person is “working-class” or “middle-class” are one area in which changes have been extremely slow.

In the past, the working-class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers’ jobs were generally much less secure, distinct differences in life-styles and attitudes came into existence. The typical working man would collect his wages on Friday evening and then give them to his wife, leaving a little for drinking or betting.

The type of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth. He was and still is likely to take a longer-term view. Not only did he regard buying a house to provide him and his family with security. Only in very few cases did workers have the opportunity (or the education and training) to make such long-term plans.

Nowadays, much has changed. In a large number of cases factory workers earn as much. Social security and laws have made it less necessary than before to worry about “tomorrow”. Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority(自卑感)they had in the past. In fact there has been a growing tendency in the past few years for the middle-classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position.

The changes in both life-styles and attitudes are probably most easily seen among younger people. They generally tend to share very similar tastes in music and clothes. They spend their money enjoying themselves, and save for holidays or longer-term plans when necessary. There seems to be much less difference than in precious generations. Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid and the low-paid. As long as this gap exists, there will always be a possibility that new problems will appear between different groups.

1.Which of the following is seen as the main cause of class differences in the past?

A.Life style and occupation.

B.Attitude and income.

C.Income and job security.

D.Job security and hobbies.

2. The writer seems to suggest that _______.

A.the description of middle-class ways of spending money is quite real

B.working-class ways of spending the weekend remain the same

C.working-class drinking habits differ from the past

D.middle-class attitudes towards their positions have changed greatly

3. According to the passage, what was the typical feature of the middle–class in the past?

A.They had to save money for security.

B.They couldn’t make long-term plans.

C.They could make as much money as they do now.

D.They didn’t have the sense of inferiority.

4. Working-class people's sense of security has increased as a result of all the following factors EXCEPT that _______.

A.they are provided with social security

B.they can get much income

C.better jobs are available for all of them

D.the government offers legal protection

5.Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A.Changes are slowly taking place in all aspects of the British society.

B.The difference between working-class and middle-class young people is narrowing.

C.The gap in income between the two classes will still remain.

D.Middle-class people may sometimes feel a little inferior.

 

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