Question

    As the Forbidden City approaches its 600th anniversary next year, a great change has been taking place, with dark and dusty corners of the palace brought back to their former glory for all to see. As recently as 2012, only 30 percent of the vast palace was open to the public. Now, 80 percent is accessible ― quickly filling with exhibition spaces, stylish restaurants and cafes, bookstores and highly profitable gift stores, as well as quiet walkways. Besides, great walls around it are now mostly open, allowing an overhead view of the grounds.

But even all that new space is not nearly enough to showcase(陈列) the treasures collected over the centuries by emperors. Now the Forbidden City can display only about 30,000 objects at a time, or 2 percent of its total.

By 2022, a new campus in the university district of Haidian, about 18 miles to the northwest, is scheduled to open to the public, a 153-acre area that will have room to show imperial carriages, carpets and regalia (礼服).

The museum staff members have also become more creative in using the space. During a visit, there was a show on how the imperial family celebrated the Chinese New Year, including reproductions of New Year’s couplets written by the Emperor Kang Xi, whose six-decade rule ended in 1722.

The new gift stores, which earned $220 million in sales in 2017, have also lifted their offerings. They once featured little more than key chains and ugly dolls; now, they have reproductions of porcelain (瓷器), textiles (织物) and even furniture.

Lisa Tan, a 38-year-old editor at a Beijing publishing house, said the new shops were attractive because they offered traditional porcelain made by government-recognized masters using traditional methods.

“It’s good that the Forbidden City is taking a lead in keeping these traditional practices alive,” Ms Tan said. “The gift store has even become fashionable in some circles.” And some of the more commercial activities are being limited, including photo studios where people can dress up like an emperor or empress.

Most visitors are still part of package tours that make people travel quickly through the central part of the palace. But taking a slower, more winding path through the Forbidden City is a better way to soak up the history and discover some of its secrets.

1.What’s the great change in the Forbidden City?

A.The great walls around it are open to the public.

B.The gift stores are a new visiting spot there.

C.It welcomes visitors on a large scale.

D.The new space is mainly for displaying treasures.

2.What makes the new gift stores attractive?

A.They bring in huge profits.

B.They focus on key chains and dolls.

C.They sell reproductions of furniture.

D.They offer a good variety of traditional items.

3.Why does the author say the museum staff are creative?

A.They create some quiet walkways.

B.They use the space for holding shows.

C.They manage the new gift stores successfully.

D.They guide visitors to find out history and secrets.

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A.The Emperor Kang Xi ruled the country for 60 years.

B.The district of Haidian covers an area of 153 acres.

C.One can explore the Forbidden City fully on package tours.

D.About 1,500,000 objects are on display now.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

本文是新闻报道，介绍了紫禁城为迎接建城600周年，为了大规模迎接游客所做出的巨大的变化。游客可以进入80%的地方参观。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中“a great change has been taking place, with dark and dusty corners of the palace brought back to their former glory for all to see. …Now, 80 percent is accessible(一个巨大的变化正在发生，宫殿黑暗和尘土飞扬的角落重新恢复了往日的辉煌，让所有人都能看到。……现在，80%的空间都是可以进入的。)”可知，为了迎接紫禁城建城600周年，紫禁城80%的地方可以对游客开放。由此判断出，紫禁城的一大变化是是准备大规模地迎接游客。故选C项。

2.细节理解题。根据第五段中“now, they have reproductions of porcelain (瓷器), textiles (织物) and even furniture.”和第六段中“…because they offered traditional porcelain made by government-recognized masters using traditional methods.”可知，新礼品店吸引游客是因为它们出售各种传统礼品，包括瓷器复制品、织物、甚至家具，其中瓷器复制品是有政府认可的师傅用传统方法制作的。故选D项。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中“The museum staff members have also become more creative in using the space. During a visit, there was a show on how the imperial family celebrated the Chinese New Year”可知，博物馆的工作人员创造性地利用空间，不仅展示故宫藏品，还在这些地方举办演出。故选B项。

4.细节理解题。根据第四段中“there was a show on how the imperial family celebrated the Chinese New Year, including reproductions of New Year’s couplets written by the Emperor Kang Xi, whose six-decade rule ended in 1722.（有一个关于皇家如何庆祝中国新年的演出，包括康熙皇帝写的春联的复制品。康熙皇帝在位60年，于1722年结束。）”可知，康熙皇帝在位统治中国60年。故选A项。