You may have heard the term “the American Dream”.In 1848, James W.Marshall found gold in California and people began having golden dreams.That 19th century “American Dream" motivated(激发) the Gold Rush and gave California its nickname of the "Golden State".

   The American Dream drove not only 1800s gold-rush prospectors(采矿者)but also waves of immigrants throughout that century and the next.People from Europe, and a large number of Chinese, arrived in the US in the 19th century hoping that in America they would find gold in the streets.But most.instead, worked as railroad laborers.They created the oldest Chinatown, in San Francisco, and gave the city a Chinese name "the old gold hill".

In the 20th century, some critics said that it was no longer possible to become prosperous through determination and hard work. Unfair education for students from poor families and racial discrimination almost made the American Dream a nightmare(噩梦).

Then, in the 1990s, California saw a new wave of dreamers in Silicon Valley.People poured their energy into the Internet. This new chapter of the American Dream attracted many business people and young talents from China and India to form start-ups and seek fortune in America.

Better pay, a nice house, and a rising standard of living will always be attractive.However, the new American Dream .is no longer just about money.It encourages Americans to consume wisely to protect the environment, improve the quality of life, and promote social justice(正义,公正).

   The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the model of the new American Dream.After years of hard work, he grew from a poor young man from Austria into a super movie star and then a governor. Many people hope his story can save the American Dream and give California a brighter future.

It can be inferred that_____________.

   A.America' s golden dream could never be realized

   B.America's golden dream had bought great fortune to Chinese immigrants

   C.different times have different themes of the American dream

   D.determination and hard work are the best way to realize the American dream

Why did most of the early immigrants work as railroad laborers?

   A.Because they could earn more money as railroad laborers?

    B.Because they had to make a living by working as railroad laborers.

    C.Because they thought railroad was the first step to find gold.

    D.Because railroad laborers were greatly honored at that time.

The underlined sentence “his story can save the American Dream” (in the last paragraph) indicates that_____________.

    A.the dream of seeking fortunate in America is easy to realize

    B.most of the immigrants to America don’t reach their previous goals

    C.the success of Arnold Schwarzenegger is among the common examples of the immigrants

    D.the immigrants have made great contributions to California

What’s the best title of the passage?

    A.Wave of Immigrants to America

    B.Make Fortunes Abroad

    C.Hard Work Leads to Success

    D.Changes of America’s Golden Dream

W Taipei

The W Hotel is among the city’s big-name luxury(奢华) hotels. Futuristic and fancy, the W Taipei’s setting is reminding you of a Lady Gaga video; perhaps that explains why the singer insisted on staying here on a recent visit. There are eight room types to choose from, with names such as Fabulous and Extreme Wow. They vary wildly in style.

10 Zhongxiao E. Road, Sect. 5, Xin Yi Area Taipei City Hall MRT; +886 2 7703 8888; from NT$8,900 (US$299); www.wtaipei.com

Grand Hotel

If sleeping in landmarks is your thing, the Taipei Grand Hotel is a must. The Grand is an expression of classical Chinese art mixed with Western construction principles. The Grand Hotel is attractive and full of history, but rooms are aging, so don’t expect the inside to be as “grand” as the outside. You can enjoy yourself at a driving range of golf, year-round pools and no fewer than eight restaurants.

No. 1, Lane 1, Zhongshan N. Road, Section 4 shuttle from Yuan Shan MRT; +886 2 2886 8888; from NT$4,800 (US$165); www.grand-hotel.org

Dandy Hotel

From free drinks and snacks in the lobby(大堂) to seasonally themed decorations, this hotel takes care of the small touches. But what places the Dandy Hotel above others in the same price category(范围)are views over Da-An Park; they’re reminders of those of New York’s Central Park. Rooms with views are worth the extra money paid, but book early -- there are only two on each floor.

No. 33, Xin Yi Road, Sect. 3, Dongmen MRT; +886 2 2707 6899; from NT$2,340 (US$80); www.dandyhotel.com.tw

Homey Hostel

Taiwanese brother and sister Josh and Kelly make guests feel right at home at this bargain Hostel. According to them, their motive in starting the hostel was to make friends, which is why they can often be found in the public area chatting with guests. There's a small kitchen, public computer, free coffee and tea, and luggage storage.

1/F, No. 7, Lane 180, Tonghua Street,) Liuzhangli MRT; +886 91900 2116; dorms from NT$500 (US$17);  www.homeyhostel.com

1. May is fan of Lady Gaga, and she may probably stay in ________when in Taipei. 

A. W Taipei        B. Grand Hotel         C. Dandy Hotel  D. Homey Hostel

2. Which of the following words can best take the place of the underlined word “touches”?

A. ways  B. details C. senses           D. contacts

3.If you are a backpack traveller with a low budget, which would be your best choice?

A. W Taipei        B. Grand Hotel         C. Dandy Hotel          D. Homey Hostel

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according the passage?

A. Rooms in the W Hotel are of the similar style but with different fancy names.

B. The Taipei Grand Hotel is an excellent mixture of classic and modern construction.

C. It is the park-view rooms in the Dandy Hotel that make it quite unique.

D. The desire of helping strangers drives Josh and Kelly to open the Homey Hostel.

 

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网