A lot of books for learning English discuss problems of the modern world：pollution，too much traffic．Venice（威尼斯）has some of these problems．But the city has its own problems．For example，there are no cars in Venice，and very few people can drive．The traffic problem is caused by the boats．They go too fast and make the water damage the buildings．

Every year，between April and September，the water covers a lot of places the city．It goes into all the shops which are on the ground floor．And，of course，into people’s houses．In November 1979，the water rose more than a metre above the normal（正常的）level．This happened every day for a whole week．On some days，it happened twice．

People in Venice usually wear rubber boom（胶鞋）．In some places，there are high platforms（平台）to walk along．Sometimes offices have to close because the water can damage computers and machines．And，of course，it is terrible for old people．

Other problems in Venice are caused by too many tourists in summer．They move in large groups，and boats usually get very crowded．Prices in the hotels and restaurants arc often high．

However，people still think Venice is a good place to live in because it is a human city．

1．Why can very few people in Venice drive?

2．What happens from April to September every year?

3．How high was water in November 1979?

4．Why are boats very crowded in summer?

There are many kinds of cars in the world. My grandmother thinks that is because cars are like their drivers. She says, “Rich people have expensive cars, big people have large cars, and old people have old cars,” But I don’t agree with her.
My neighbor, Mrs. Hill, is 82 years old. She drives only on Tuesday, and she drives only to the bank. She never drives more than 30 kilometers an hour. Do you think Mrs. Hill has a very old and small car? No! Her car is new. It is very large and it can go 200 kilometers an hour! My friend Mike is an artist. He draws beautiful pictures with a lot of colors. But his car is black! Mrs. Bates has a very old car. It often has engine(发动机) trouble. Does she have that kind of car because she is very poor? No, she has four factories and two million dollars in the bank. My aunt Mary has a car. Every Sunday, she drives to the country with her husband, her three children , her mother and their dog. 
Now you read about my friends and their cars. Do you agree with my grandmother?
【小题1】My grandmother thinks________.  

There are many kinds of cars in the world. My grandmother thinks that is because cars are like their drivers. She says, “Rich people have expensive cars, big people have large cars, and old people have old cars,” But I don’t agree with her.

My neighbor, Mrs. Hill, is 82 years old. She drives only on Tuesday, and she drives only to the bank. She never drives more than 30 kilometers an hour. Do you think Mrs. Hill has a very old and small car? No! Her car is new. It is very large and it can go 200 kilometers an hour! My friend Mike is an artist. He draws beautiful pictures with a lot of colors. But his car is black! Mrs. Bates has a very old car. It often has engine(发动机) trouble. Does she have that kind of car because she is very poor? No, she has four factories and two million dollars in the bank. My aunt Mary has a car. Every Sunday, she drives to the country with her husband, her three children , her mother and their dog. 

Now you read about my friends and their cars. Do you agree with my grandmother?

1.My grandmother thinks________.  

A. big people drive small cars          B. old people drive new car  

C. poor people have expensive cars      D. rich people have expensive cars 

2. Mrs. Hill’s car is _______.

A. fast and new  B. fast but old  C. slow and old   D. fast and small 

3.Mrs. Bates may be ________.

A. a worker  B. an artist   C. a boss   D. a bank clerk 

4.What kind of picture does Mike draw? 

A. He often draws pictures with black        

B. He often draws very colorful pictures 

C. He draws pictures with only a few colors  

D. He never draws beautiful pictures

5.There are _____ people in my aunt’s car on Sunday?           

    A. 5        B. 6        C. 7       D. 8