Limit the use of private cars, improve public transport and encourage the use of bicycles to control traffic congestion(拥挤) during the 2008 Olympics, experts from foreign countries advised Beijing on Friday.
Professor Nigel Wilson, of the civil and environmental engineering department of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said he was "supportive to the limiting of private cars during the Olympic Games", saying that in foreign countries, the method is also adopted during big events, but he was unsure about the approach.
The government planned to keep an average of more than one million cars off the roads to improve traffic flow during the Olympics, said Liu Xiaoming, deputy director of the Beijing Traffic Committee, at the China Planning Network First Urban Transportation Congress.
Sharing Wilson's view, Dr. Yoshitsugu Hayashi, dean of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies of Nagoya University, believed the reduction in car use should be achieved not by banning, but through incentives.
"Drivers who don't use their private cars could be given points," he said, "and the points could be exchanged for goods from online shopping."
Wetzel stressed limiting the use of company cars. "Governmental officials should also be encouraged to use public transportation or ride bicycles," he said, adding that he himself is a bicycle-rider in London.
Matthew Martimo, director of Traffic Engineering with Citilabs, said the bicycle was China's advantage. "Limiting private cars is an idea worth trying but it is just a temporary solution," he said. "The real cause of congestion is high density of people in Beijing and many have cars."
Beijing, with a population of 15 million, is home to more than three million automobiles, and the number is rising by 1,000 a day.
Professor Wilson said the Olympic Games was a great opportunity for Beijing to think about traffic problems and develop transportation, adding that the city had already been making public transport more efficient. Beijing has promised to stretch its 114-kilometer city railway to 200 kilometers before the opening of the Olympic Games.
“We are looking forward to borrowing Beijing's experiences and drawing from its lessons in preparation for the 2012 Olympics,” said Wetzel.
51. The underlined word incentives in paragraph 4 means_______.
A. something that encourages people to try B. online shopping
C. points could be exchanged for goods D. award
52.It can be seen from the passage that ______.
A. the government planned to forbid over 1 million cars to run on the roads during the Olympics.
B. banning private cars is the best way to solve traffic congestion in Beijing
C. Beijing now has 200 kilometers of city railway
D. the use of company cars will not be limited
53. Why did Wetzel stress “ he himself is a bicycle-rider in London”?
A. To limit the use of company cars.
B. To encourage governmental officials to use public transportation or ride bicycles.
C. To show that riding bicycles is good for health.
D. To show that he loves riding bicycles.
54. Which of the following may be the reason for the traffic congestion in Beijing?
A. The 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
B. The number of cars in Beijing is rising by 1,000 a day.
C. The large population in Beijing and the large number of cars.
D. Public transport in Beijing is not efficient.
55. The purpose of the passage is ________.
A. to limit the use of private cars, improve public transport
B. to encourage the use of bicycles to control traffic congestion during the 2008 Olympics
C. to borrow Beijing's experiences and draw from its lessons in preparation for the 2012 Olympics
D. to tell the advice given by foreign experts on traffic congestion during 2008 Beijing Olympics
Shane Thomas is a 10-year-old pianist from England. He’s being called the next Mozart because of his amazing abilities.
He has only been having piano lessons for four months, and practices four hours a week, but he has already played difficult classical pieces. He was just seven when he sat down at the piano, and could play at once. He also says he never gets nervous.
When Shane was three years old, he said that he could play the piano, but nobody took him seriously. At school, he could listen to the teacher and do his work while composing (作曲) in his head. Shame remembers all the melodies(旋律),and when he gets home he plays them on the piano, while his father records them. Shane loves playing the piano, and when he grows up he wants to be a composer.
His tutor, Richard Goffin-Lecar, says he is like Amadeus Mozart, who lived during the 18th century in Salzburg, Austria, and was one of the most famous composers ever. Mr. Goffin-lecar says, “I don’t teach Shane very much. I just give him directions, then sit back and watch.”
His father, a single parent with two other children, says that although he has little money, he wants to send Shane to a good music school. “I’m a single father, but I have this gifted child. I don’t have much money, but I want to give him the best teachers, and also take him into a studio to record.”When did Shane tell others that he could play the piano?
A.At age three. | B.At age ten. | C.At age seven. | D.At age four. |
Which of the following is TRUE about Shane?
A.He feels nervous while playing the piano |
B.He can compose in his head while doing his work. |
C.He wants to be a piano tutor when he grows up. |
D.He doesn’t like to listen to the teacher at ![]() |
What do we learn about Shane’s father?
A.He also plays the piano well. |
B.He’s a single father with two children. |
C.He believes in Shane’s talent for music and will support him. |
D.Not having enough money, he will ask the teachers for help |
Mexico City is truly one of the most amazing cities in the world with a mixture of both the old and new world. From the moment your plane starts to descend into this vast city, you know that your trip will be quite an adventure.
Once in your taxi and the moment you leave the airport, you are amazed at the large amount of slow traffic. The volume of the traffic can be stressful to some.
The "Paseo de la Reforma(改革大道)", running southwest across the city, is one of the major tourist and business areas in Mexico City with many high quality hotels only walking distance from great restaurants and other tourist attractions. The only problem you will have is trying to see all of these sites during your vacation time.
One of the most popular attractions in this area is the National Museum of Anthropology along the northwest part of the street. There are thousands of artifacts on display showing the history of the area and numerous items found from the many Aztec sites in the area. Walking southwest from the museum, you will soon reach the Mexico City Zoo, which is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Across the street from the museum is the Chapultepec Castle, once an important site in the Mexican-American war. It's also a good idea to take the train up the hill to where the castle is located as the hill is steep. It's important to keep in mind that Mexico City is over 7,000 feet above sea level and some feel it difficult to breathe when walking.
You can take a taxi to the Coyoacan market during the evening on a weekend. It's a great place to get some cheap souvenirs to bring back home and to enjoy some traditional Mexican cuisine. However, you must be careful where you eat and that the meat is well cooked.The tourists in Mexico City may not be satisfied with______.
A.the high speed of the traffic | B.the heavy traffic of the city |
C.the polluted air in the city | D.their safety in the city |
From the third paragraph, we can learn that______.
A.the number of the city attractions can't meet the needs of the tourists |
B.it is convenient for tourists to visit the city from where they stay |
C.tourists have problems when visiting the sites in Mexico City |
D.tourists often have their three meals in the high quality hotels |
Which of the following shows the correct positions of the following places?
P =" Paseo" de la Reforma M =" the" National Museum of Anthropology
C =" the" Chapultepec Castle Z =" the" Mexico City ZooWhich of the following attractions may interest those who want to study the military (of thearmy) history of Mexico City?
A.The National Museum of Anthropology. | B.The Coyoacan market. |
C.The Chapultepec Castle. | D.The Aztec sites. |
Beginning in October, more than 13,000 McDonald’s (麦当劳)restaurants in America will use a new variety of cooking oil. McDonald’ s aims to make its French fries (油炸食品) and other fried foods healthier.
The change will not affect the taste or the number of calories in the food. But by changing the cooking oil, McDonald’s says, it hopes to cut by nearly half the amount of trans fatty acids (转换脂肪酸) in French fries and reduce the amount of saturated fats(饱和脂肪) by 16 percent. Scientists believe that trans fatty acids and saturated fats raise cholesterol(胆固醇) levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
McDonald’s new step is important because McDonald’s is an industry leader and other fast-food chains and food processors may follow the lead.
For McDonald’s ,the action comes at a time when Americans are becoming more and more concerned about; obesity (肥胖) and are increasing pressure on food companies to offer healthy and nutritious (有营养的) food to consumers.
After three years of study, McDonald’s officials say they are switching oil that is lower in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. McDonald’s says the change will not cause higher price for consumers.
Though there is some change, scientists say that the amount of trans fat in foods at McDonald’s and at other fast-food companies is still important.More than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants in America will use a new kind of cooking oil to ______________.
A.lower the costs of the products |
B.maker its food taste hatter than ever before |
C.cure (治愈) the heart disease |
D.do good to the health of consumers |
The underlined ward "switching" here has the same meaning as " _______".
A.turning on | B.turning off | C.changing | D.studying |
The main idea of the passage is __________.
A.McDonald’s is a pioneer in food products |
B.McDonald’s is enlarging its restaurants in the world |
C.fried foods can’t keep up with the development of modem society |
D.McDonald’s is to use new cooking oil |
When a new kind of cooking oil is used in McDonald’s, ________
A.the prices of McDonald’s foods will be a tot higher |
B.consumers will find the taste of McDonald’s foods different |
C.many other food companies will do what McDonald’s does |
D.obesity will disappear in American society sooner or later |
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible(有责任感的) citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地). On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.Which of the following is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?
A.Parents bring up children. |
B.Parents give love and care to children. |
C.Parents educate children to be good persons. |
D.Parents pass away before children grow up. |
What do you think “florists” do?
A.They sell flowers. |
B.They make and sell bread. |
C.They offer enough room for having family parties. |
D.They sell special gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. |
What do you know from the passage?
A.Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May. |
B.Fewer women worked outside the home in the past. |
C.Not all the children respect their parents. |
D.Fathers are not as important as mothers at home. |
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, .
A.people usually have family parties | B.everyone goes to visit the cemetery |
C.children always go to parents’ home | D.hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts |
I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it. Mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be a most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed in action. But as a young girl. I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface (表面)”.
As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.
My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace – it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
But the present of her desk told me, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside – a photo of my father and a one-paper letter, folded and refolded many times. It was my letter.
“In any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.”The writer began to love her mother’s desk________.
A.after Mother died | B.before she became a writer |
C.when she was a child | D.when Mother gave it to her |
The passage shows that_________.
A.Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter |
B.Mother was too serious about her daughter in words |
C.Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words |
D.Mother wrote to her daughter in careless words |
The underlined word “gulf” in the passage means_______.
A.deep understanding between the old and the young |
B.different ideas between mother and daughter |
C.free talks between mother and daughter |
D.part of the sea going far in land |
What’s best title of the passage?
A.My letter to Mother | B.Mother and children |
C.My Mother’s Desk | D.Talks between Mother and me |