American cities are similar to other cities around the world: American cities are changing, just as American society is changing. After World War Two, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increase. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts (转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents became wealthier. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs.
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again.
1.What does the author think of cities all over the world?
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A．They are alive. |
B．They are hopeless. |
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C．They are similar. |
D．They are different. |
2. Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Two?
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A．Because older American cities were dying. |
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B．Because they were richer and needed more space. |
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C．Because cities contained the worst parts of society. |
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D．Because they could hardly afford to live in the city. |
3.According to the 4th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities .
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A．are faced with housing problems |
B．are forced to move to the suburbs |
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C．want to sell their buildings |
D．need more money for daily expenses |
4.We can conclude from the text that .
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A．American cities are changing for the worse |
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B．people have different views on American cities |
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C．many people are now moving from American cities |
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D．the population is decreasing in older American cities |
STAGE
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Keep it in the air: The Chaoyang Theater is one of the Beijing theaters to present acrobatics(杂技 ) all year round．Top acrobatic artists invited from all over the country perform for Chinese and foreign tourists．The program contains trick cycling, leaping through hoops and Chinese magic tricks．Some of the artists have won prizes in international competitions． Time: 7∶15 p．m．Daily Place: 36, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District Tel: 65072421, 65071818 |
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Use your head: Green Hat is a new drama given by a group of young Chinese actors．It’s a rewrite of American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous novel The Scarlet Letter． It describes the heroine’s great courage in finding the true love against the public disagreement． Time: 7∶15 p．m．until March 5, except Mondays Place: China Children’s Theater Tel: 66037255, 66037265 |
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Mix and match: Story of Puppets tells of a fairy, Zixia, who looks for true love in the human world．After watching a puppet play Peony Pavilion, she thinks there must be true love in reality, so she uses magic to turn the puppet characters into humans, wanting to fall in love with the puppet hero．But things don’t go as she planned．．．Li Liuyi, the director of the play has made several successful attempts to present different traditional operas in one play．This time he combines Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Pingju Opera along with a band, using the structure of modern drama． Time: 7∶ 30 p．m．until March 10, except Mondays Place: Small Playhouse of Beijing People’s Art Theater Tel: 65250123 |
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Peking Opera: The Beijing Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances at the Chang’an Grand Theater．Each performance includes two classical excerpts(选段)．One is Wenxi(a play focusing on singing and dancing); the other is Wuxi (a play full of acrobatic dancing)．The first night will be The Crossroad and Presenting a Pearl of the Rainbow Bridge．And the second night will see the performance of The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers and Havoc in Heaven． Time: 7∶30 p．m．February 27, 28 Place:Chang’an Grand Theater Tel: 86531043 |
1.We can learn from the text that________．
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A．story of puppets is a play held in China Children’s Theater |
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B．the artists who have won prizes will perform magic tricks |
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C．on March 5 there will be two plays for us to choose |
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D．the artists in the Beijing Peking Opera Troupe are from all over the country |
2.If a tourist wants to see a performance on March 15, he can call_______to book a ticket．
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A．86531043 |
B．65250123 |
C．66037255 |
D．65071818 |
3.According to the text, which of the following statements is true?
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A．The director of the Story of Puppets combines different operas in it． |
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B．Green Hat is based on a famous novel acted by some American artis |
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C．Top Acrobatic artists will present their performances around our country． |
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D．The Beijing Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances with the same excerpts． |
Britain's oldest man made his first visit to London yesterday at the age of 110. Mr. John Evans had never found the time or the money-to make the trip from his home near Swansea. But, when British Rail offered him an all-expenses-paid birthday trip to the capital, he just could not refuse.
Until yesterday he had never been far from home, except for one trip to Aberdeen. Mr. Evans, who spent 60 years working as a miner in South Wales, almost made the journey to London once before, at the turn of the century. "There was a trip to the White City but it was ten shillings (1 shilling =" 1/20" pound) return from Swansea—too much I thought. All my money went to the family then." he said.
During the next two days Mr. Evans will be taken on a whistle-stop tour of London to see the sights. Top of his list is a visit to the Houses of Parliament(国会).
The only arrangement he does not care for is the wheelchair provided to move him about if he gets tired. "I don't like the chair business--people will think I am getting old," he said.
His secret for a long and healthy life has been well publicized--no alcohol, no cigarette and no anger. Before setting off from Swansea with his 76-year-old son, Amwel, he quipped," I'm glad to see they've given me a return ticket. "
1.It was reported that Mr. Evans's healthy long life was to a certain extent due to his ______.
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A．wine drinking |
B．proper smoking |
C．mild temper |
D．sense of humor |
2. Which of the following statements is true?
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A．A single trip from Mr. Evans's home to the White City used to be ten shillings. |
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B．The first place for Mr. Evans to visit is the Houses of Parliament. |
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C．He appreciated people's arrangement of a wheelchair during his visit. |
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D．Mr. Evans once made the journey to London at the turn of the century. |
3.The word "quip" in the last sentence most probably means _______.
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A．to make a witty remark |
B．to express a happy message |
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C．to make a wish |
D．to tell a joke |
4.What might be the best title for this passage?
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A．110-Year-Old Tourist |
B．Secret for Long and Healthy Life |
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C．Free Return Ticket |
D．Sightseeing in London |
The two pens are the same, but the red one cost _____________ that one.
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A．as much twice as |
B．twice as much as |
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C．much as twice as |
D．as twice much as |
Mary and Joan quarreled, but they after a while．
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A．put up |
B．brought up |
C．made up |
D．set up |
She is being pleased about it; she is very angry．
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A．free from |
B．free of |
C．out of |
D．far from |
