.
Beijing plans to build huge free or low-cost parking lots beyond the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads to encourage more car owners to take buses or subways to the downtown area.
The plan is just one of the many measures the city plans to take to reduce its traffic jams. Low or no parking fees would be used as economic leverage（杠杆作用）to reduce growing parking demands from urban areas.
Car owners living in the suburbs will be encouraged to park their cars beyond the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads and take buses or subways to the downtown area. Statistics show that nearly one quarter of the city’s traffic flow is concentrated in the 62-square-kilometre downtown area within the Second Ring Road, which makes up only 12 percent of the city’s total area.
The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau receives between 400 and 500 calls reporting traffic jams every day and more than 90 percent of the roads are filled to capacity during rush hour every morning and evening. Part of the problem is the lack of easy links between bus routes, subways and cars.
According to the communication commission, half of the city’s investment in transportation will go towards public transit（公共交通）construction in the next few years, making a jump from the current only 20 percent. Moreover, Beijing plans to change its layout（布局）by building new city centers, such as at Yizhuang, Tongzhou, Shunyi and Changping, in a bid to reduce the traffic flow to the downtown.
The current layout of Beijing-expanded ring roads around the same center of the Forbidden City, is seen as the root cause of the endless traffic jams. The downtown area is crowded with three business centers and one financial centre, as well as nearly 400 government organs and institutions.
Traffic experts say building more urban centers around Beijing may reduce the number of residents living in the suburbs and traveling long distances to work downtown every day, thus reducing traffic flow.
40. In the coming years, if a man beyond the Fourth Ring Road goes to work in the
downtown of Beijing, he is encouraged to _______.
A. take buses or subways
B. take a taxi
C. drive the car quickly
D. park his car in a place which asks for no fees
41. According to this passage, when more and more people drive to work in rush hour in Beijing, it is likely to ________.
A. save time B. cause traffic jams
C. cause traffic accidents D. reduce air pollution
42. The aim in building new city centers is to ________.
A. make it convenient for people to go shopping
B. develop its local resources
C. reduce the traffic flow to the downtown
D. solve the problem of more laid-off workers
43. The passage suggests the author _________.
A. is tired of driving to work
B. finds it costs less to take subways than to drive
C. is for the plan to reduce Beijing’s traffic congestion（拥挤）
D. has benefited a lot by driving to the downtown every day
This is a story that happened in Europe in the 17th century. Tulips (郁金香) were introduced into Holland before the 17th century but it did not take long for the flowers to gain popularity among the upper classes. Flowers of such beauty soon became symbols of power and the rich tried their best to lay their hands on some to display them in their gardens. When more people learned of the prices that the rich were willing to pay for tulips, they knew they just found a “get-rich-quick” gold mine.
By 1634
, the whole country was so attracted by tulips that all other activities almost came to a stop. People were trading in tulips and even buying and selling bulbs (球茎). At that time, one rare bulb cost as much as ten tons of cheese.
Many made a fortune in the beginning. As the prices moved in one direction, they only needed to buy low and sell high, buy high and sell higher. After the gains, confidence rose and many sold aw
ay all their property in order to invest more money in tulips, hoping to make more money. The desire was so strong that those who were watching also rushed to the tulip market. Everyone thought that the high demand for tulips would continue forever and prices could only go up because more and more people from all over the world would start to like tulips.
When the prices of tulips was much higher than it should be, few people bought them for planting in their gardens. The real demand for the flowers seemed greater than it really was. Many people were buying them for speculation (投机), not appreciation. In 1637, for some unknown reasons, a group of people suddenly realized the danger. The prices of tulips began to fall and the market crashed. When confidence was destroyed, it could not be recovered and prices kept falling. Soon the nobles and the rich became poor. Cries of suffering were heard everywhere in Holland. Why did the upper classes buy tulips in the beginning?
| A．Because the prices of tulips were low. |
| B．Because they wanted to make a fortune. |
| C．Because tulips were introduced from abroad. |
| D．Because tulips were beautiful and represented power. |
It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
| A．greed(贪婪) was the reason why so many people were mad about tulips |
| B．tulips became popular among the upper classes very slowly |
| C．people who were mad about tulips bought them for appreciation |
| D．when the prices were extremely high, most people planted tulips in their gardens |
The passage is mainly about ________.
| A．Europe in the 17th century | B．buying and selling tulips |
| C．being mad about tulips | D．the life of the nobles and the rich |
It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2009. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries(食品杂货),saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity(人性)as a whole. And it has influenced us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.Why was the bike so important to the couple
| A．The man's job was bike racing. | B．It was their only possession. |
| C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed. | D．They used it for work and daily life. |
We can infer from the text that ____________.
| A．the couple worked 60 hours a week. | B．people were busy before Christmas |
| C．the stranger brought over the bike | D．life was hard for the young family. |
How did people get to know the couple's problem
| A．From radio broadcasts. | B．From a newspaper. |
| C．From TV news. | D．From a stranger. |
What do the couple learn from their experience
| A．Strangers are usually of little help. | B．One should take care of their bike. |
| C．News reports make people famous. | D．An act of kindness can mean a lot. |
While I was having dinner with a well-known author and lecturer, our conversation drifted to money. “I have enough money,” he told me casually. “I don’t need any more money.”
“Of course you can say that,” I thought to myself. “You get fifteen thousand dollars for a lecture.”
Then I caught my thought process, and pondered(仔细考虑)more deeply on his statement. Is he satisfied because he has a lot of money, or does he have a lot of money because he chooses to be satisfied?
I know people with more money than this man, and they still don’t have enough. And I know people with very little money, and they always have enough. So is enoughness something that happens to us when we reach a certain level, or is it an experience we can choose and celebrate at any time?
My friends Adrian and Carey live in a humble cottage in the rainforest. They have quite a modest income, no telephone, and they walk around naked most of the time. I think they are the happiest people I know. They wake up with the sun, love each other very much, and welcome guests with a full and open heart. They appreciate every moment of their lives, have no distraction games going, and are not waiting for the big break around the corner. When I am with them, the predominant（主要的）feeling I have is, “It’s all right here—why would anyone want anything more?”
Ram Dass used to say, “There are three kinds of people in the world: those who say, ‘Too much!’; those who say, ‘Not enough!’; and those who say, “Ah, just right!’”; Since “too much” of one thing implies “not enough” of another, there are really only two approaches to life: lack or contentment.From the first paragraph, we can infer that the lecturer ___________.
| A．was living a happy life | B．was careless about his money |
| C．was satisfied with his life | D．was rich enough to live a happy life |
We learn from the underlined part that ____________.
| A．it’s money that is of importance | B．it’s not money but the attitude that matters |
| C．we don’t have to have much money | D．we won’t have enough money in life |
What does the author think of Adrian and Carey’s life?
| A．They have no guests. | B．They have all they want. |
| C．They live a very hard life. | D．They live a very happy life. |
According to the last paragraph, people have two different attitudes towards life: ____________.
| A．not enough or too much | B．lack or too much |
| C．lack or contentment | D．just right or enough |
Which of the following best suits the passage?
| A．Nothing is better than a contented mind. |
| B．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| C．Practice makes perfect. |
| D．Better late than never. |
When we’re little, our mother is the center of our attention, and we are the center of hers. So our mother’s characteristics leave an indelible(持久的)impression, and we are forever after attracted to people with her facial features, body type, personality, even sense of humor. If our mother is warm and giving, as adults we tend to be attracted to people who are warm and giving. If our mother is strong and even-tempered, we are going to be attracted to a fair-minded strength in our mates.
The mother has an additional influence on her sons: she not only gives them clues to what they will find attractive in a mate, but also affects how they feel about women in general. So if she is warm and nice, her sons are going to think that’s the way women are. They will probably grow up to be warm and responsive lovers and also be cooperative around the house.
Conversely, a mother who has a depressive personality, and is sometimes friendly but then suddenly turns cold and rejecting, may raise a man who becomes a “dance-away lover”. Because he’s been so scared about love from his mother, he’s afraid of commitment and may pull away from a girlfriend for this reason.
While the mother determines in large part what qualities attract us in a mate, it’s the father—the first male in our lives—who influences how we relate to the opposite sex. Fathers have an enormous effect on their children’s personalities and chances of marital happiness.
Just as mothers influence their son’s general feelings toward women, fathers influence their daughter’s general feelings about men. If a father lavishes praise on his daughter and demonstrates that she is a worthwhile person, she’ll feel very good about herself in relation to men. But if the father is cold, critical or absent, the daughter will tend to feel she’s not very lovable or attractive.
In addition, most of us grow up with people of similar social circumstances. We hang around with people in the same town; our friends have about the same educational backgrounds and career goals. We tend to be most comfortable with these people, and therefore we tend to link up with others whose families are often much like our own.Why do our mother’s characteristics leave us an indelible impression?
| A．Because we are likely to be attached to people with her characteristics. |
| B．Because the mother and her child are the centers of each other when her child is very young. |
| C．Because our mother is better than our dad. |
| D．Because our mother is a woman who is kind to us. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．If our mother is warm and giving, we love to be together with warm and generous people. |
| B．If our mother is strong and well-controlled, we are going to be attracted to a fair-minded strength in our mates. |
| C．Mother not only gives her children clues to what they will find attractive in a mate, but also affects how they feel about women in general. |
| D．Fathers influence their daughter’s general feelings about men. |
What can we know from Paragraphs 2 and 3?
| A．The mother only influences her sons. |
| B．The sons always think women are warm and nice. |
| C．A mother who has a depressive personality is sure to raise a dance-away lover. |
| D．The mother has an additional influence on her sons. |
What does the underlined word “lavishes” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
| A．Uses much. | B．Uses little. | C．Never uses. | D．Seldom uses. |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．Mothers’ influence on their sons. | B．Parents’ influence on their children. |
| C．Parents’ impression on their children. | D．Fathers’ influence on their daughters. |
(BEIJING, August 10)—The Beijing Daily has put together a number of tips for cost-efficient travel in Beijing.
★Subway transfer
“Transfer” is a word frequently used by volunteers helping visitors choose the best way of transport during the ongoing Beijing Olympics to save time.
On the seven subway lines now in operation, the transport authorities have set up a total of 16 transfer stations:
Transfer between Line 2 and Line 1 at Jianguomen and Fuxingmen stations；
Transfer between Line 2 and Line 5 at Chongwenmen and Yonghegong stations;
Transfer between Line 2 and Line 13 at Dongzhimen and Xizhimen stations; Dongzhimen station can also bring you to Beijing Capital International Airport via the Airport Line；
Transfer between Line 1 and Line Batong at Sihui and Sihuidong stations；
Transfer from Line 1 to Line 10 at Guomao station to reach Zhongguancun, the north Third Ring Road (going north and west) or Jinsong (going south).
Via Line 10, transfer to Line 8 at Beitucheng station to reach the Olympic central zone, where the “Bird’s Nest” and other venues are located; transfer to Line 5 at Huixinxijie Nankou; transfer to Line 13 at Zhichunlu and Shaoyaoju stations; Sanyuanqiao station takes you to the airport via the Airport Line.
★From subway to bus
Beijing’s subway system is thoroughly linked with bus routes.
The Beijing Railway Station, which can be reached via the Line 2 subway, has bus lines going north, southeast and to the West Railway Station, covering Chaoyang, Tongzhou, Daxing and other districts.
Xizhimen station is linked to many bus routes that go south and northeast. The long-distance bus routes near Dongzhimen station pass through Shunyi, Pinggu and other outskirts.
★Park and ride
Park and ride facilities allow commuters to leave their personal vehicles in a parking lot and transfer to a bus or rail system.
In Beijing, because of city planning and other factors, park and ride is limited to bus and subway stations beyond the Fourth Ring Road. Since the Line 5 subway began operating, a low-fare parking lot, the largest in Beijing, was created at Tiantongyuan Beizhan station. Drivers are encouraged to spend just two yuan per day parking their vehicles and take the subway into the city.At which of the station, passengers can go to the Beijing Capital International Airport by subway?
| A．Dongzhimen and Xizhimen. | B．Jianguomen and Fuxingmen. |
| C．Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao. | D．Zhichunlu and Shaoyaoju. |
According to the tips, if you take Line 2, how can you reach Zhongguancun?
| A．Transfer to Line 1 at Jianguomen station, and then transfer to Line 10 at Guomao station. |
| B．Transfer to Line 5 at Chongwenmen station, and then transfer to Line 10 at Guomao station. |
| C．Transfer to Line 13 at Dongzhimen station, and then transfer to Line 8 at Beituchengstation. |
| D．Transfer to Line 1 at Dongzhimen station, and then transfer to Line 10 at Guomao station. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．You can get to the Beijing Railway Station via the Line 5 subway. |
| B．Park and ride is limited to bus and subway stations beyond the Third Ring Road. |
| C．Drivers can spend a little money in parking their vehicles in the largest parking lot. |
| D．Drivers must park their cars in the largest parking lot and transfer to a bus or rail system. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．From the Beijing Railway Station, you can take buses to the West Railway Station. |
| B．From the Beijing Railway Station, you can take the subway to the West Railway Station. |
| C．The Beijing Railway Station has bus lines going north and southeast. |
| D．The Beijing Railway Station has bus lines going southeast and to the West Railway Station. |
What is the purpose of the tips?
| A．To help volunteers save time during the ongoing Olympic Games. |
| B．To help tourists enjoy the places of interest in Beijing. |
| C．To make people learn about the daily transport in Beijing. |
| D．To make it convenient and efficient to travel in Beijing during the ongoing Olympic Games. |