Traveling by train is usually not easy in China. It can be hard to get a ticket. When you’re traveling to the railway station you look at your watch, afraid you will miss your train.
But there is good news for people traveling between Beijing and Shanghai. Construction (建设) on the express railway (高速铁路) between the two cities started just before the Spring Festival of 2008. When it is finished by 2013, taking a train will be as easy as taking a bus.
“There will be trains every several minutes. Buying a ticket, getting through the checkpoint (检查站) and taking your seat, will take just 10 minutes,” said an engineer.
There may be high-speed trains running at 350 kilometers an hour. The travel time between the two cities will decease from 10 to about 5 hours. The trains will carry twice the present number of passengers.
The new line will be 1,318 kilometers long and go across specially built bridges. It will run along side the present line. There will be 21 stations in Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu.
“The cost of traveling by the express railway may be around 800 yuan. That will be more expensive than an ordinary train, but cheaper than by air.” Said Zhang Xiaoling, a Jiangsu government official.
According to Zhang, the higher price is caused by the large cost of the railway project. At about 200 billion yuan, the project may be even more expensive than the Three Gorges Project (三峡工程).
1.The express railway between Beijing and Shanghai will be finished _______.
A. at the end of this year B. before the Spring Festival of 2008
C. after 2013 D. in about 5 years
2.Before taking your seat, you should _____ with your ticket.
A. buy a ticket B. get through the checkpoint
C. pack your things D. make some friends
3.The word “decrease” in the passage possibly means ______ in Chinese.
A. 延长 B. 缩短 D. 提速 D. 限速
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Traveling by train is usually difficult in China because tickets are too expensive.
B. The high-speed trains will have 21 stations in Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Hunan and Jiangsu.
C. Tickets for the high-speed trains will be cheaper than those for planes.
D. The cost of the express railway project is as high as that of the Three Gorges Project.
5.What can be the best title of the passage?
A. An enormous project. B. Train tickets will get more expensive
C. Specially built bridges D. Beijing—Shanghai express railway
Rudi Matt lived in a small village in the Swiss Alps in 1865. What he wanted most in the world was to climb 31 highest peak (山峰) in the Alps. 32 mother and his uncle, Franz, a mountain guide, wanted him to stop 33 and start working in a hotel. Rudi would not 34 his dream and secretly got in touch with an English mountain climber 35 was planning to climb the highest peak.
Franz was very angry when he found out 36 Rudi had done, but he finally agreed to let Rudi go if he went climbing, too. Franz also didn’t want to see Emil Saxo, a guide from another village, got to the top 37 him.
Rudi turned out to be a very good climber, 38 as they got close to the top, the Englishman got sick and couldn’t go on farther. Franz 39 behind to take care of him, but Saxo continued, wishing to be the 40 to the top. Rudi went after Saxo, hoping to 41 him to the top. When they met, Saxo fought with Rudi and fell down by accident. Saxo was 42 and hurt. Rudi must decide whether to carry Saxo back down to safety or to continue alone to the top.
He thought Saxo’s life was more 43 than his dream and helped him down. During that time, the Englishman and Franz continued the climb, and finally 44 reached the top. Later, the villagers 45 knew Rudi was the real conqueror (征服者) of the mountain.
1. A. the B. a C. an D. /
2.A. Rudi B. The Rudi’s C. Rudis’ D. Rudi’s
3. A. climbing B. climb C. to climb D. climbed
4. A. try out B. give up C. go over D. work out
5. A. what B. which C. whom D. who
6.A. which B. what C. that D. where
7.A. after B. behind C. before D. over
8.A. but B. so C. or D. for
9.A. walked B. rested C. stayed D. watched
10. A. first B. second C. third D. last
11.A. take B. beat C. push D. help
12. A. helpful B. helping C. helps D. helpless
13.A. popular B. successful C. important D. interesting
14.A. he B. they C. them D. him
15. A. both B. none C. either D. all
—I can’t stop smoking, doctor. — For your health, I’m afraid you ______.
A. may B. can C. have to D. need
—Look at the noisy kids!
—Haven’t you heard the saying “When the cat is away, the mice ______?”
A. play B. played C. are playing D. will play
—Who broke the window? — ______. A strong wind broke it last night.
A. Somebody B. Anybody C. Nobody D. Everybody
1. He is stone deaf.
2. Watch out! There's a car coming!
3.The policeman followed the thief into s supermarket.
4. I moved here when I was five.
5.It seems that they are on the playground.
