London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It has about seven million people. The river Thames runs through London.
People from all over the world visit London to see Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. There are many museums, theatres and parks in London, as well as offices and factories. London began as a Roman settlement called Londinium. The plague(瘟疫) came to London in the 1600s, followed by the Great Fire of 1666. The city was badly bombed in World War II.
London is very slowly sinking into its foundations and the level of the river Thames is slowly rising. As a result, extra-high tides could flood a large part of London. To prevent this happening, a great barrier（屏障）has been built across the Thames at Woolwich. If very high tides happen, the barrier can be raised and London will be safe.
1.London is the capital of _________, which began as a __________ settlement.
A. England; Norman B. UK; Frenchman
C. Scotland; English D. UK; Roman
2.According to the passage, from 1600 to now, ________ great disasters have happened in London.
A. one B. two C. three D. four
3.The reason why a great barrier has been built across the Thames at Woolwich is that_________.
A.London is very slowly sinking into its foundations
B.the level of the river Thames is slowly rising
C.extra-high tides could flood a large part of London
D.all of the above.
Britain and Ireland
The British Isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other __16 . Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands, and it is17 into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.
The United Kingdom is that 18 of the British Isles ruled over by the Queen. It is made up of Scotland, Wales and England, that is, the 19 of Britain, and also about one sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The 20 of Ireland is self-governing. The 21 name of the United Kingdom is 22 “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.
23 is larger and richer than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has the largest 24 of the United Kingdom, so people often use the 25 “England” and “English” when they 26 “Britain” and “British”. This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh a little 27 . The Scots in particular are very 28 of their separate nationality. The Welsh too do not regard 29 as English, and have a culture and even a 30 of their own.
Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but for forty years the “Irish 31 ” was the greatest headache of the United Kingdom. 32 , Ireland is divided into two: Northern Ireland still 33 to the United Kingdom, and in 1922 the rest of Ireland 34 to found an Irish Free State, later called Eire and now the Republic of Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland does not regard itself as part of Britain, and is not now even a supporter of the Commonwealth of Nations (英联邦). Unlike the major Commonwealth countries it did not lift a finger to 35 British in the Second World War and now wants the whole of Ireland to be a republic.
1.A. Wales B. Britain C. England D. Scotland
2.A. divided B. cut C. broken D. separated
3.A. piece B. island C. country D. part
4.A. south B. north C. part D. whole
5.A. smaller B. larger C. rest D. island
6.A. correct B. true C. full D. complete
7.A. also B. therefore C. likely D. perhaps
8.A. The UK B. The British isles C. Great Britain D. England
9.A. colleges B. officials C. cities D. population
10.A. words B. names C. spellings D. pronunciations
11.A. call B. forget C. speak D. write
12.A. angry B. difficult C. tired D. lonely
13.A. proud B. fond C. full D. kind
14. A. it B. Wales C. them D. themselves
15.A. capital B. language C. history D. programs
16.A. Country B. Question C. Disease D. Republic
17.A. At last B. So C. Meanwhile D. Also
18.A. returns B. belongs C. gets D. speaks
19.A. hoped B. refused C. broke away D. used
20.A. feel B. touch C. fight D. help
The way he suggests to us doesn’t make______
A. difference B. opinions C. use D. sense
With a lot of difficult problems_____, the newly-elected president is having a hard time.
A. settled B. settling C. to settle D. being settling
You shouldn’t keep silent when ____
A. speaking B. spoken to C. spoken D. speaking to[来
The students expected ____ more reviewing classes before the exam.
A. there to be B. there are C. there being D. there to have
