认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。注意：每空格只填一个单词。
Ticket tax fuels Indian cinema strike
Cinemas in Mumbai, Bollywood’s homeland are striking against high taxes on ticket sales.
Owners of Mumbai’s single-screen theatres will keep their shutters (百叶窗) down until Friday to protest about taxes, which they say are driving them out of business.
More than a third of single-screen cinemas in the state of Maharashtra have closed down in the last five years. According to the Cinema and Exhibitors Association of India, just 700 are still in operation. The association blames the closing down on Maharashtra’s high rate of entertainment tax. Its president, R V Vidhani, says that cinemas must pay a tax for every ticket sold, which is 45%, and this makes it hard to break even. It’s the highest of all states across India. The majority of the states in India pay zero entertainment tax. Mr Vidhani says his members had decided to go ahead with a one-week closure after getting no response from the state government on the matter.
It is not just a high tax rate contributing to the shrinking（收缩）number of traditional cinemas, however. Large costs and declining box office takings also make times tougher.
Mr Vidhani has run the New Excelsior Theatre in South Mumbai since 1974. Last week a screening of Bollywood movie Tanu Weds Manu sold just 71 tickets despite a capacity of more than 1,000. Whether it’s a full house or an empty screening, running costs are more or less the same. “Air conditioning, regular business — every expenditure (支出) is the same, but the income has stopped.”
The cricket (板球) World Cup is not helping matters, according to Mr Vidhani. “The World Cup is creating the biggest problem,” he says. “These people are crazy so far as the cricket is concerned. When India is playing, occupancy in the theatre is just 15%.”
Mumbai’s city centre is dotted with empty cinemas.
So after remaining empty for six years, the Novelty theatre is perhaps more fortunate than its neighbours: it is to be reborn as a four-screen multiplex cinema.
Over the last decade the number of multiplexes in India has risen sharply. Despite higher ticket prices, with more choice on offer and typically newer facilities they pose fierce competition to the traditional single-screen theatres.
“Competition from the multiplexes is really tough,” Mr Vidhani says. “Then there is competition from the movie window being narrow. Movies are being released much quicker on television than they used to be so people can pretty much watch movies for free at home.
“With rising incomes, everyone’s going out and buying DVD players or VCD players. Content is available for the asking whether it is official or pirated(盗版).”
Unless single-screen theatres can become special destinations in their own right, while also offering up-to-date facilities, Jehil Thakkar thinks the decline is a trend that will continue, especially as multiplex cinemas spread to smaller towns.
“They are large corporate chains,” he says. “They have the ability to spend money on branding and advertising, so to a large extent the small cinema guys are fighting a losing battle.”
Ticket tax fuels Indian cinema strike
| The current (1) ▲ of cinema business in Mumbai |
● Many single-screen cinemas are (2) ▲ . |
| The causes of the closing down of cinemas |
Cinemas in Mumbai have to pay a tax (3) ▲ than any other places in India. It costs a lot to (4) ▲ a cinema whether it’s a full house or an empty screening. The occupancy is (5) ▲ by people’s enthusiasm for cricket. Single-screen cinemas are (6) ▲ with competition from multiplex cinemas, which offer more choices and (7)▲ facilities. A quicker release of movies on television is to (8) ▲ . People prefer to watch DVD or VCD rather than go to the cinema. |
| The (9) ▲ of single-screen cinemas |
The trend of decline will continue. Single-screen cinemas are certain to (10) ▲ the battle. |
Being on bad terms with your neighbors can make your life frustrating day after day. But taking the time to establish a good relationship with your neighbors has a good many benefits. The community will be friendlier, the neighborhood safer, and the area a nicer place to live in. There are some suggestions to develop a good relationship with your neighbors.
Whether you’re new in the neighborhood or new residents who have just moved into your block, introduce yourself. Say hello, offer a welcoming gift and share or ask about the local area.
Sometimes, you can remedy(补救) problems before they even start; for example, if you do a lot of yard work, let them know in advance and mention that if it’s getting too loud, they shouldn’t hesitate to let you know.
Be aware of the shared walls, if you and your neighbors share adjacent(相邻的) living spaces. Try to put noisy household appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers away from the shared walls.
Keep your pet dog on a leash(皮带) if it has a habit of running rampant on your neighbors’ lawns, especially if they have a pet cat or a pet dog of their own, and ensure to clean up after it.
When you park your vehicle, be sure not to block anyone’s access, or make them have to pull out of a very tight spot. Don’t slam(砰地关上) your car doors late at night.
Weed your garden in a regular way, because the presence of weeds in your yard is not only unsightly but can also spread to your neighbor’s yard.
Really good neighbors watch out for each other. They offer to help, especially on matters that impact the larger neighborhood and look for opportunities to communicate. Great neighbors make for great neighborhood.
| Topic: To be a good neighbor |
|
| Importance of |
● Being on ● A good relationship with neighbors has numerous benefits, |
| Steps to develop a good relationship with your neighbors |
● Introduce yourself when you are in a new area. ● Care about others and let them know they can point out your problem without any ● Be ● Make ● When you park your car late at night, ● Weed your garden |
| Conclusion |
● Good neighbors have a(an) ● Great neighbors |
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Some people believe that greed and selfishness has become the basis of modern society, and we should return to the old traditions of family and community, then we will have a better life. To that extent do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?
In this fast-paced world, many values are undergoing major changes. While people traditionally prioritize caring, sharing and generosity in life and work, modern people seem to be more self-absorbed and self-concerned.
Modern people act selfishly to survive the harsh competition of life. They say that it is a jungle out there. To survive, you have to fight with whatever means that come handy. Obviously greed and selfishness go perfectly well with such ideas. In a company, employees do everything they can to get better pay and higher position, even at the cost of colleagues. We are in any way advocating any selfish conduct. It is just that people are pressured to act in a certain way due to outside influences.
In spite of common practice, it is hard to conclude that modern society is built on greed and selfishness, both of which are not newly invented vocabulary. In ancient times people also did greedy and selfish things though such behaviors were more condemned then. But we can not ignore the fact that people in the past lived a relatively more isolated life and faced less pressure compared with their modern counterparts.
Are we happier to share with others and be generous to them? There is no fixed answer either. Some people take great pleasure helping and giving to others while others feel happy doing the opposite. But I personally think that people should not be too selfish. Caring for others can actually encourage the development of a mutually beneficial relationship.
In conclusion, modern people appear to be more self-centered than those in the past due to strong outside pressure. However, we should encourage people to know the importance of being caring and generous and to build a mutually beneficial relationship with others.
Are Modern People Becoming More Selfish？
| Main comparisons |
Contexts |
| In the past people put caring, sharing and generosity in the first |
|
| Nowadays, people seem to be more |
|
| People in the past appeared to be modest and self-effacing（谦逊的）. |
|
| People may strive to achieve their own |
|
| The author’s understanding |
|
| Fierce |
|
| The author’s |
A relationship which can |
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Being on bad terms with your neighbors can make your life frustrating day after day. But taking the time to establish a good relationship with your neighbors has a good many benefits. The community will be friendlier, the neighborhood safer, and the area a nicer place to live in. There are some suggestions to develop a good relationship with your neighbors.
Whether you’re new in the neighborhood or new residents who have just moved into your block, introduce yourself. Say hello, offer a welcoming gift and share or ask about the local area.
Sometimes, you can remedy(补救) problems before they even start; for example, if you do a lot of yard work, let them know in advance and mention that if it’s getting too loud, they shouldn’t hesitate to let you know.
Be aware of the shared walls, if you and your neighbors share adjacent(相邻的) living spaces. Try to put noisy household appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers away from the shared walls.
Keep your pet dog on a leash(皮带) if it has a habit of running rampant on your neighbors’ lawns, especially if they have a pet cat or a pet dog of their own, and ensure to clean up after it.
When you park your vehicle, be sure not to block anyone’s access, or make them have to pull out of a very tight spot. Don’t slam(砰地关上) your car doors late at night.
Weed your garden in a regular way, because the presence of weeds in your yard is not only unsightly but can also spread to your neighbor’s yard.
Really good neighbors watch out for each other. They offer to help, especially on matters that impact the larger neighborhood and look for opportunities to communicate. Great neighbors make for great neighborhood.
| Topic: To be a good neighbor |
|
| Importance of |
● Being on ● A good relationship with neighbors has numerous benefits, |
| Steps to develop a good relationship with your neighbors |
● Introduce yourself when you are in a new area. ● Care about others and let them know they can point out your problem without any ● Be ● Make ● When you park your car late at night, ● Weed your garden |
| Conclusion |
● Good neighbors have a(an) ● Great neighbors |
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Society today tells us that automatic pencils are a lot better than manual ones which you have to sharpen every 5 seconds. Maybe this is true. However, there are some benefits from using an old-fashioned traditional pencil which you cannot get with an automatic one.
To be honest, it is quite convenient to use an automatic pencil with an easy press on the button. Meanwhile a manual pencil doesn’t enjoy any plus point. But it is sort of strange that manual pencils should be used in standardized tests today. Chances are that the manual pencil makes the line of grey look nicer.
Nowadays, it is always a battle of who has the newest, most high-tech gadget(小装置), from pencils, cars to clothes. The newer it is, it seems the more popular it becomes. If you walk around school, you will for sure find at least three out of ten people walking around with the latest iPhone 4S. If you are one of the luckier ones walking around with the newest Nokia phones, you will get laughed at.
Maybe an automatic pencil is better at the moment, but after using it for a while, usually the pencil will break. Most people lose them and don’t remember to carry extra lead(铅芯) to fill them up with, as it sometimes can do so much that it needs a lot of lead, just like an iPhone 4S needs to be charged after it has done so much work. As for the manual pencil, the lead will also run out but unlike the mechanical pencil it will last longer. Besides, the automatic pencil and the iPhone 4S are more likely to get stolen while the manual pencil along with the Nokia phone will be left alone and most likely-returned to you.
| Title |
Automatic Pencils |
| People’s |
●The newer-gadget like the iPhone 4s becomes more ●You will be |
| Advantages |
●We can use the automatic pencil more easily by ●The manual pencil is ●The manual pencil can last longer. |
| ●The automatic pencils usually tend to ● People often ● |
Some people believe that greed and selfishness has become the basis of modern society, and we should return to the old traditions of family and community, then we will have a better life. To that extent do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?
In this fast-paced world, many values are undergoing major changes. While people traditionally prioritize caring, sharing and generosity in life and work, modern people seem to be more self-absorbed and self-concerned.
Modern people act selfishly to survive the harsh competition of life. They say that it is a jungle out there. To survive, you have to fight with whatever means that come handy. Obviously greed and selfishness go perfectly well with such ideas. In a company, employees do everything they can to get better pay and higher position, even at the cost of colleagues. We are in any way advocating any selfish conduct. It is just that people are pressured to act in a certain way due to outside influences.
In spite of common practice, it is hard to conclude that modern society is built on greed and selfishness, both of which are not newly invented vocabulary. In ancient times people also did greedy and selfish things though such behaviors were more condemned then. But we can not ignore the fact that people in the past lived a relatively more isolated life and faced less pressure compared with their modern counterparts.
Are we happier to share with others and be generous to them? There is no fixed answer either. Some people take great pleasure helping and giving to others while others feel happy doing the opposite. But I personally think that people should not be too selfish. Caring for others can actually encourage the development of a mutually beneficial relationship.
In conclusion, modern people appear to be more self-centered than those in the past due to strong outside pressure. However, we should encourage people to know the importance of being caring and generous and to build a mutually beneficial relationship with others.
Are Modern People Becoming More Selfish？
| Main comparisons |
Contexts |
| In the past people put caring, sharing and generosity in the first |
|
| Nowadays, people seem to be more |
|
| People in the past appeared to be modest and self-effacing（谦逊的）. |
|
| People may strive to achieve their own |
|
| The author’s understanding |
|
| Fierce |
|
| The author’s |
A relationship which can |