WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced a new
plan to renew and expand the nation's roads, railways and runways, in a bid (努力) to restart the sluggish economy and to help create jobs.
Obama announced the billion-dollar infrastructure(基础设施) spending program at an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the Labor Day holiday in the United States.
The proposal calls for investments over six years, including rebuilding and modernizing 150,000 miles (241,350 kilometers) of roads, 4,000 miles (6,430 kilometers) of railways and 150 miles ( 241 kilometers) of runways.
"It sets up an Infrastructure Bank to leverage(杠杆；利用) federal dollars and focus on the smartest investment. All of this will not only create jobs now, but will make our economy run better over the long haul," Obama said.
"This is a plan that will be fully paid for and will not add to the deficit over time," said Obama.
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, reflecting business reluctance to hire among uncertain economic prospects, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday.
The president admitted that new jobs "have not been coming fast enough" in the United States.
"These years would be some of the most difficult in our history. The problems facing working families are nothing new, but they are more serious than ever. And that makes our cause more urgent than ever," he added.
1.What does the underlined word “sluggish” probably mean?
|
A．繁荣的 |
B．崩溃的 |
C．疲软的 |
D．行动迅速的 |
2.What’s the main idea of this passage?
|
A．The US president launched a new program aiming at improving the nation’s infrastructure. |
|
B．The US unemployment rate rose according to the Labor Department. |
|
C．These years will be the most difficult in the American history. |
|
D．More roads, railways and runways will be rebuilt and modernized. |
3.Which of the following will be changed most in length?
|
A．Roads. |
B．Railways. |
C．Runways. |
D．Highways. |
“Dad! He took a book without paying!” I yelled.
My father looked surprised. Before the boy could say anything, his mother grabbed his arm and shook it. “Is it true? You stole? Tell me!”
Everyone was quiet. The boy began to cry, and he nodded his head. He pulled out the comic book (漫画书) from under his shirt.
“Oh, Mr. Kim. I am sorry! My Ted made a big mistake!” Mrs. Diaz told my father. She tried to take the comic book, but Ted wouldn’t let go.
“It’s OK. He can keep it,” my father said with a smile.
“Oh no,” Mrs. Diaz said. “Let me pay right now ...” She dug in her purse. “How much?”
“Three seventy-five.”
Mrs. Diaz’s eyes widened, and she dug deeper. I saw her mouth make a small line. “Three seventy-five?” she asked.
“It’s OK. You can pay later,” my father said.
“No,” Mrs. Diaz said. She kept looking in her purse. “I have money here.”
I felt bad for yelling, for I realized that Ted had tried to steal the comic book because he didn’t have the money. Maybe the boy could have a job, I thought.
I had an idea.
“What if he worked with me?” I asked. They turned to me.
I said, “He can work with me to pay for the comic book.”
“Good,” my father said smiling at me. Mrs. Diaz nodded. She turned to her son, “You hear? You will work and buy the comic book!”
“Yes, Mama,” Ted said, hanging his head.
As they left, Ted looked back, and though he still seemed sad, he stuck out (伸出) his tongue at me.
Ted has been working here for two weeks. He has paid for the comic book, but my father says he is such a good worker that he can work with me as long as he wants. We are friends now.
1.Where did the story most probably take place?
|
A．In a classroom. |
B．In a supermarket. |
C．At a bookstore. |
D．At a library. |
2.By saying “but Ted wouldn’t let go” in Paragraph 4, the author means Ted ______.
|
A．took the book by mistake |
B．wanted to keep the book |
|
C．didn’t want to go home |
D．didn’t think he was wrong |
3.From the underlined sentences in the eighth paragraph, we may infer that Mrs. Diaz ______.
|
A．didn’t think her son stole the book |
B．had been out of work for a long time |
|
C．forgot to take money with her that day |
D．couldn’t afford to pay for the book |
4.In the last paragraph, what does the author mainly tell?
|
A．His idea was successful. |
B．Ted didn’t like the job. |
|
C．He liked Ted very much. |
D．Ted was a naughty boy. |
---The current international financial crisis is affecting most countries in the world.
---Would it be at least several years ____ everything returns to normal?
|
A．when |
B．that |
C．since |
D．before |
____ , the boys were shouting and singing.
|
A．Happy and excited |
B．Happily and excited |
C．Happily and excitedly |
D．Happy and excitedly |
Barack Obama delivered a speech to 500 local youths during his visit to China, many of ____ from Fudan
University and Tongji University.
|
A．them |
B．whom |
C．which |
D．who |
---What’s your impression of the Great Wall?
---Wonderful! Once ____ , it can never be forgotten.
|
A．seen |
B．seeing |
C．being seen |
D．saw |
