People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed , Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers around major roads. Others want tougher laws to restrict noise from building sites or to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs. But the highest priority was a noise complaints system that works.

The meeting found the present regulatory（立法的）system strange. The departments which are responsible for noise problem can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police. So they are getting run-around．When the people at the forum were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour noise hotline to be the first call for all complaints.

The forum also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise in appliances like air conditioners. Other measures were wider buffer（缓冲）zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas.

But there are obvious conflicts. Many people like to have a bar within walking distance if they feel like a drink, but they don’t want a noisy pub keeping them awake when they want an early night. Most people want to live near a major road providing good access to other parts of the city, but they don’t want the problem of road noise.
There was strong support for measures to reduce traffic: better public transport, cycleways and footpaths, even charges for road users. Many people

optimistically thought industry awards for better equipment would stimulate（刺激）the production of quieter appliances. It was even suggested that noise from building sites could be reduced if Brisbane adopted daylight saving, thus shifting the working day and providing longer, quieter evenings.

1．“A noise complaints system” here most probably refers to ______.

A．technical appliances                                   B．a 24-hour noise hotline

C．the Environment Protection Authority          D．adopting daylight saving

2．“They are getting run-around” in the second paragraph means ______.

A．they take turns to deal with noise problem

B．they work together to deal with noise problem

C．each side counts on the others to deal with the problem

D．they are busy going here and there to deal with the problem

3．Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A．Convenience and noises often exist side by side.

B．Reducing noise of air conditioners is a technical improvement.

C．By adopting daylight saving, we can make days shorter.

D．The Council may be a regulatory organization.

4．Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Forum About Noise Pollution                  B．How To Reduce Noise Pollution

C．A Public Meeting In Brisbane                  D．Problems In Dealing With Noise

BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have pros and cons.

GOOD NEWS

Free museums. No charge for outstanding collections of art and antiquities.

Pop music. Britain is the only country to rival(与…匹敌)the US on this score.

Black cabs. London taxi drivers know where they are going even if there are never enough of them at weekends or night.

Choice of food. Visitors can find everything from Ethiopian to Swedish restaurants.

Fashion. Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too.

　　BAD NEWS

　　Poor service. “It’s part of the image of the place. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced,” says Professor Tony Seaton, of Luton University’s International Tourism Research Center.

　　Poor public transport. Trains and buses are promised to defeat the keenest tourists, although the over crowded London tube is inexplicably(难以理解的) popular.

Lack of languages. Speaking slowly and clearly may not get many foreign visitors very far, even in the tourist traps(圈套).

　　Rain. Still in the number one complaint.

　　No air-conditioning. So that even splendidly hot summers become as unbearable as the downpours.

　　Overpriced hotels. The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark.

Licensing hours. Alcohol(酒) is in short supply after 11 pm even in “24-hour cities”.

1. What do tourists complain most?

　　A. Poor service.           　　B. Poor public transport.

C. Rain.               　　       D. Overpriced hotels.

2. What do we learn about pop music in Britain and the US through this passage?

A. Pop music in Britain is better than that in the US.

B. Pop music in Britain is as good as that in the US.

C. Pop music in Britain is worse than that in the US.

D. Pop music in Britain is quite different from that in the US.

3. When is alcohol not able to get?

　　A. At 9: 00 pm      B. At 10: 00 pm     C. At 11: 00 pm     D. At 12: 00 pm

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　　A. You have to pay to visit the museums.

　　B. It’s very cheap to travel by taxi there.

　　C. You cannot find Chinese food there.

    D. The public transport is poor there.

BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have advantages and disadvantages .

ADVANTAGES

Free museums. No charge for good collections of art works

Pop music. Britain is the only country to rival(与…匹敌)the US on this point.

Cabs. London taxi drivers well know where they are going.

Choice of food. Visitors can find food from every corner of the world .

Fashion. Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too.

　　DISADVANTAGES

　　Poor service. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced,” says Professor Tony Seaton, of Luton University’s International Tourism Research Center.

　　Poor public transport. Trains and buses are promised to defeat tourists who have the most patience, so the over- crowded London tube is inexplicably(难以理解的) popular.

　　Rain. Still in the number one complaint. 

　　Overpriced hotels. The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark.

Drinking hours. Alcohol(酒) is in short supply after 11 pm even in “24-hour cities”.

What do tourists complain most?

　 A. Poor service.             　　B. Poor public transport.

C. Rain.                　　      D. Overpriced hotels.

When is alcohol not able to get?

　 A. At 9: 00 pm      B. At 10: 00 pm     C. At 11: 00 pm      D. At 12: 00 pm

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　 A. You have to pay to visit the museums.

　 B. Only clothing with brand names are sold in London .

　 C. You cannot find Chinese food there.

D. The public transport is poor there.

BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have advantages and disadvantages .
ADVANTAGES
Free museums. No charge for good collections of art works
Pop music. Britain is the only country to rival(与…匹敌)the US on this point.
Cabs. London taxi drivers well know where they are going.
Choice of food. Visitors can find food from every corner of the world .
Fashion. Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too.
　　DISADVANTAGES
　　Poor service. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced,” says Professor Tony Seaton, of Luton University’s International Tourism Research Center.
　　Poor public transport. Trains and buses are promised to defeat tourists who have the most patience, so the over- crowded London tube is inexplicably(难以理解的) popular.
　　Rain. Still in the number one complaint. 
　　Overpriced hotels. The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark.
Drinking hours. Alcohol(酒) is in short supply after 11 pm even in “24-hour cities”.
【小题1】What do tourists complain most?

BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have advantages and disadvantages .

ADVANTAGES

Free museums. No charge for good collections of art works

Pop music. Britain is the only country to rival(与…匹敌)the US on this point.

Cabs. London taxi drivers well know where they are going.

Choice of food. Visitors can find food from every corner of the world .

Fashion. Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too.

　　DISADVANTAGES

　　Poor service. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced,” says Professor Tony Seaton, of Luton University’s International Tourism Research Center.

　　Poor public transport. Trains and buses are promised to defeat tourists who have the most patience, so the over- crowded London tube is inexplicably(难以理解的) popular.

　　Rain. Still in the number one complaint. 

　　Overpriced hotels. The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark.

Drinking hours. Alcohol(酒) is in short supply after 11 pm even in “24-hour cities”.

1.What do tourists complain most?

　 A. Poor service.             　　B. Poor public transport.

C. Rain.                 　　      D. Overpriced hotels.

2. When is alcohol not able to get?

　 A. At 9: 00 pm      B. At 10: 00 pm     C. At 11: 00 pm      D. At 12: 00 pm

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　 A. You have to pay to visit the museums.

　 B. Only clothing with brand names are sold in London .

　 C. You cannot find Chinese food there.

D. The public transport is poor there.