There were many beautiful buildings in ancient Rome, but the living conditions for ordinary people were bad. Most of their homes were so poorly made that they fell down or were fire hazards (=danger) with their steep, narrow wooden stairways. Most people were packed into apartment buildings that rose shakily (=unsafely) six to twelve floors above the ground. The apartments were rooms about three metres square, and each building housed about five hundred people.

These tall buildings faced each other across streets only three metres wide, so no sunlight reached the ground. Even so, apartments were costly, though cheaper places could be had outside Rome. But people wanted to be near their work and entertainment. So the streets became crowded and it was hard to move quickly. At night, the streets were filled with noise as food and supplies were brought into the city on wagons and carts.

1. In ancient Rome, most people lived in ________ apartments.

A. small and crowded B. clean and tidy

C. spacious and sunny D. tall and big　

2. The streets in ancient Rome were ________.

A. crowded and noisy B. wide and bright

C. narrow and dark D. both A and C　

3. People liked to live in Rome Because________.

A. the apartments were comfortable

B. the living expenses were low

C. they have no money to build houses outside the city

D. they wanted to enjoy the conveniences of the city　

4. This passage is mainly about ________ in ancient Rome.

A. the beautiful buildings

B. the living conditions of ordinary people

C. the streets and transportation

D. the food and daily supplies

SHANGHAI--The Shanghai World Financial Centre will be the tallest land-mark in the world after its completion this century in Pudong, according to the project's Japanese investors.

The building will be located in the prime Lujiazui Zone in Pudong , on a 30,000-square-metre site. The building was originally designed to be a 94-floor office tower with a height of 460 metres.

The project broke ground in 1997 but was later halted as a result of the financial crisis in Southeast Asia.

“As the economy warms up, we are more confident about Shanghai and the whole China and we are working hard to get the Project restarted as soon as possible,” said Katsuyuki Takeuchi, vice-president and general manager of the  Shanghai World Financial Centre Company.

Its parent company, Japan-based Moil Building Co. Ltd, established the Shanghai subsidiary as the operator responsible for this ambitious project. The design, which is undergoing revision in apian, will accommodate international  high-tech  businesses, department stores, art galleries, clubs and a five-star hotel. Unlike the gloomy economies of the United States, Europe and Japan, China enjoys a strong growth with brighter prospects, Takeuchi said.

More capital and businesses are expected to flow into Shanghai, which aims to become a world centre for trade and the financial industry--with Lujiazui as its showpiece.

The layout of Luijiazui includes three tall buildings, one of which is the completed Jinmao Tower, each rising above 400 metres, as designed by local government after holding an international design competition early last decade.

Other buildings nearby fall in height gradually, creating a special shape against the skyline. The Shanghai World Financial Centre will be built as the peak of the mountain. “The peak will be safe thanks to the perfect design, advanced technology and the stable social and political environment in Shanghai,” Takeuchi said, reassuring those who might be anxious about the safety of the soon-to-be world's tallest building.

52. Why is the Shanghai World Financial Center to be built?  :

A. Because it is by the bank of the Changjiang River.

B. Because it is going to be the highest building in China.

C. Because the economy of China is of a better future than of  other countries.

D. Because the builders in Shanghai could be sure of the quality of the building.

53. Seen from a long distance, the Lujiazui Zone looks like a(an)

A. apple    B. mountain    C. box    D. basin

54. Why will the Shanghai World Financial Center be of great safety?

A. Because it will be the peak of a mountain.

B. Because its design and technology are of the top levels.

C. In Shanghai there is a stable social and political environment.

D. B and C.

55. Which of the following has the same meaning as the sentence“... reassuring those who might be anxious about the safety of the soon-to-be world's tallest building”

A. Comfort the people so that they won't worry about the safety of the peak.

B. Tell the people the tallest building will be finished soon.

C. Advise people not to be anxious about the building until it is finished.

D. Make sure that the building will be built in Shanghai.

For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples, which are about 85 percent water, grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas (地区). Among the leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.

There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those grown for sale. The three most common kinds grown in the United States are Delicious, golden Delicious, and McIntosh.

　Apples are different in colour, size, and taste. The colour of the skin may be red, green, or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart (酸的). Generally, sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make applesauce (苹果酱).

　Apple trees may grow as tall as twelve metres. They do best in areas that have very cold winters. Although no fruit is yielded during the winter, this cold period is good for the tree.

It can be learned from the text that Delicious apples are _______________

　 A. grown in France.　　 B. sold everywhere.

　 C. very big.　　　　　　  D. quite sweet.

Cold winter weather is good for _______________

　 A.the growth of apple trees.

　B. producing large apples.

　C. improving the taste of apples.

　 D. the increase of water in apples.

China, France and the United States are considered to _______________

　A. be large producers of apples.

　B. be large producers of applesauce.

　C. have the longest history in apple production.

　 D. have the coldest winter among apple producing countries.

The word yielded in the last sentence means _______________

　A. improved.　 B. increased.

　C. produced.　  D. sold.

For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples, which are about 85 percent water, grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas (地区). Among the leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.
There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those grown for sale. The three most common kinds grown in the United States are Delicious, golden Delicious, and McIntosh.
　Apples are different in colour, size, and taste. The colour of the skin may be red, green, or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart (酸的). Generally, sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make applesauce (苹果酱).
　Apple trees may grow as tall as twelve metres. They do best in areas that have very cold winters. Although no fruit is yielded during the winter, this cold period is good for the tree.
【小题1】It can be learned from the text that delicious apples are _______________

For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples, which are about 85 percent water, grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas (地区). Among the leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.

There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those grown for sale. The three most common kinds grown in the United States are Delicious, golden Delicious, and McIntosh.

　Apples are different in colour, size, and taste. The colour of the skin may be red, green, or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart (酸的). Generally, sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make applesauce (苹果酱).

　Apple trees may grow as tall as twelve metres. They do best in areas that have very cold winters. Although no fruit is yielded during the winter, this cold period is good for the tree.

1.It can be learned from the text that delicious apples are _______________

2.Cold winter weather is good for _______________

3.China, France and the United States are considered to _______________