阅读理解

　　It's interesting to see how people make use of the time they spend on public transport in Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai．

　　In crowded buses and trains people manage to take a short nap and some even reach the snoring stage．Or they spread out a newspaper over multiple knees and arms to read about the latest sport results or political crisis．

　　Then there are the experienced travellers who have been playing cards with the same group over the last decade or so．They even have their specific seats so well-worn that you can make out the shape of their backsides．

　　There is no doubt about it．Travelling by public transport is being in the thick of the seasons of life－a sweaty life in summer where people, blissfully unaware of the rivers of sweat running down their brows and inside their clothes．At the first smell of a perfumed man or woman boarding the stuffy bus or train, most people feel they are reborn．

　　During the rains you can't avoid getting wet or muddied．The windows, almost always, are not a perfect fit and if you're not drenched by a sudden, heavy rain shower then you are bound to catch a jet spray of muddy water caused by a fellow motorist driving fast through a puddle．

　　Rains are a perfect time for people to switch their old umbrellas for new ones．Since there are so many that look alike, it's impossible to tell whose is whose．

　　Winter is the time when it feels good－or at least warm－to be part of a crowd．It is amazing how much the collective breaths of a 100 or so people can raise the freezing temperature inside．Looking at the masses dressed in their bright red pullovers or green coats, it's fun to imagine what faces lie beneath their dark woolen hats．

　　The cold winter passes, making way for spring．It is impossible not to see every little flower by the wayside blooming proudly．And the warm sun manages to transmit some of their pleasantness to the inside of a bus or train．

　　Now, wouldn't it be perfect if we had a public transport worth the name in all our cities?

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　　An Indian boy ran fast from a village in Mexico．In his hand, he carried some fish．Only a few minutes before, the fish had been caught in the river．Another boy was waiting to take over these fish and to run on, since the first boy was tired．And so from one quick runner to another, fresh fish were rushed from the river to the dinner table of the King．

　　Speed is important in transporting fish and much other fresh food．Some fresh food like fish must reach the market and the dinner table as quickly as possible．But, now planes, trucks and ships have taken the place of those running boys．

　　Planes are the fastest way to transport food．They are useful in carrying food to people that“could not be reached in other ways”．For example, there was an earthquake and the people could not be reached by trains and trucks．The people would have had nothing to eat if no planes had been used to transport food to them．But there is a disadvantage in using planes; air transport is usually the most expensive way of carrying food．And so within a country food is usually transported by trucks and trains, while from country to country food is usually transported by ships．

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阅读理解

　　Say you are a 17th century construction(建筑)worker who's worked long and hard to build a splendid tower for the dead wife of your emperor(皇帝)．

　　Now say that the emperor orders your fingertips cut off so you can never build another one．Yes, that is the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world．And the tale(传说)behind the construction is just as impressive(印象深刻的)as the building itself．

　　First, there's the emperor of northern India, Shah Jehan, also called the King of the World．In 1612, Shah Jehan married Mumtaz Mahal．Madly in love, they had 14 children over the next 20 years．But then sadness came．As Mumtaz was about to give birth to child number 14, she said she had heard her unborn baby cry out．It was a sign of death．And as Mumtaz lay dying, she asked Jehan to build a lasting memorial(纪念物)to celebrate their love．

　　When the heartbroken Jehan appeared eight days after his wife's death, his people were shocked to see that his coal-black hair had turned snow-white．

　　Putting away his sadness, Jehan ordered his wife's dying wish carried out(执行)．More than 20,000 workers labored nearly 22 years to complete the construction．In 1653, Jehan placed Mumtaz's remains in the center under the building．

　　And then, son number five, Aurangzeb, murdered his brothers and took over the power from his aging father．Hehan lived the rest of his days－eight years, to be exact－imprisoned not far from the Taj Mahal．Jehan was only allowed to climb onto the top of his prison to see the timeless treasure from a distance(从远处)．But never again would he be allowed to visit it－until he was buried next to his wife．

　　Today 25,000 people visit the Taj Mahal each day．Though the reason for building the tower was a strange, sad story, those who see its breath-taking beauty are reminded(使想起)of the happiness that inspired(激发……的灵感)its construction．

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