Taking the train is a wonderful way to see America. In the 19th century, train routes appeared from coast to coast, carrying both people and goods Today, a long-distance Amtrak train trip is a different way to experience the United States.

The long-distance Amtrak trains have lots of room. Coach seats have lots of leg room and wide aisles(走廊),sightseeing lounges(休闲室) have large windows, and sleeping areas can provide a good night’s rest. On a train trip, there’s time to talk, play cards or board games, and read to one another. On a car trip, parents have to drive while on a train, parents can sit back and watch the scenery go by. Unlike an airplane, traveling by train is not the quickest way to arrive at your destination; the train is the destination in itself.

Amtrak manages long-distance trains that run through the United States. Routes have different names, such as Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Sunset Limited and Southwest Chief. The long-distance trains have double-decker cars(Superliners), sightseeing lounges, and a real dining car. On shorter trains, such as from New York to Washington. DC, the cars are single level and only have a snack bar. In the Superliner trains, the sightseeing lounge is lined with windows on the second level while on the lower level a snack bar and tables can be found. In the evening, videos are shown in the lounge car—either entertaining movies or documentaries.

Tip: As delays are common on Amtrak trains, always call the station before you go there. Otherwise, you may be cooling your heels(脚后跟) for hours.

What’s the advantage of seeing America by train?

  A. There are more services on the train than any other

  B. Traveling by train is the quickest way to reach your destination.

  C. Traveling by train gives people more time to see and do things.

  D. The trains like Amtrak allow people to enjoy the journey cheaply.

Which of the following can be found on short-distance Amtrak trains?

  A. Sleeping areas.    B. Snack bars.     C. Sightseeing lounges.  D. Coach seats.

What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

  A. You will have to wait.

  B. You make your heel cool.

  C.You will have no place to stand on the train.

  D. Your feet will be hurt on the train.

Which of the following about Superliners is true?

  A. There are lines of windows on the lower level.

  B. The snack bar is on the higher level.

  C.A sightseeing lounge is on the upper level.

  D. Both levels are equipped with videos.

A man once said how useless it was to put advertisements in the newspapers. "Last week," said he, "my umbrella was stolen from a London church. As it was a present, 1 spent twice its worth in advertising, but didn't get it back."

   "How did you write your advertisement?" asked one of the listeners, a merchant.

   "Here it is," said the man, taking out of his pocket a slip cut from a newspaper. The other man took it and read, "Lost from the City Church last Sunday evening a black silk umbrella. The gentleman who finds it will receive ten shillings on leaving it at No l0 Broad Street."

   "Now," said the merchant, "I often advertise, and find that it pays me well. But the way in which an advertisement is expressed is of extreme importance. Let us try your umbrella again, and if it fails, I will buy you a new one."

    The merchant then took a slip of paper out of his pocket and wrote: "If the man who was seen to take an umbrella from the City Church last Sunday evening doesn't wish to get into trouble, he will return the umbrella to No. 10 Broad Street. He is well-known."

This appeared in the paper, and on the following morning, the man was astonished when he opened the front door. In the doorway lay at least twelve umbrellas of all sizes and colors that had been thrown in and his own was among them. Many of them had notes fastened to them saying that they had been taken by mistake, and begging the loser not to say anything about the matter.

This is a story about_______.

   A. how a man lost and found his umbrella   

B. how to make an effective advertisement

   C. how to find lost things                    

D. how to put an advertisement in the newspaper

"If it fails, I will buy you a new one "suggested that______.

   A. he was rich enough to afford an umbrella          B. he was quite sure of his success

C. he was not sure he would get the umbrella back            D. he was ready to help others

The result of the first advertisement was that______.

   A. the man got his umbrella back    B. the man wasted some money advertising

   C. the man found his umbrella D. someone found his umbrella

According to the first advertisement, anyone who_____ would receive ten shillings.

   A. left the umbrella in the City Church   B. found the umbrella at No. I 0 Broad Street

   C. gave the message to the man          D. left the umbrella at No. 10 Broad Street

Why play games? Because they are fun, and a lot more besides. Following the rules... planning your next move... acting as a team member... these are all "game" ideas that you will come across throughout your life.

Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Some games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dreams that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating(合作).

Many children's games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination(协调) needed in hunting.

    Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.

    Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it--some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.

Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life.

The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can ____.

A. describe life in an exciting way

B. turn real-life experiences into a play

C. make learning life skills more interesting

D. change people's views of sporting events

According to the passage, why is winning Olympic medals so encouraging?

A. It inspires people's deep love for the country.

B. It proves the exceptional skills of the winners.

C. It helps the country out of natural disasters.

D. It earns the winners fame and fortunes.

Iribarne's goal of forming the foundation is to ____.

A. bring fun to poor kids                                 

B. provide soccer balls for children

C. give poor kids a chance for a better life 

D. attract soccer players to help poor kids

What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Games benefit people all their lives.    

B. Sports can get all athletes together.

C. People are advised to play games for fun.

D. Sports increase a country's competitiveness.

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