Text 1 In January commuters voted Birmingham New Street one of Britain's worst railway stations.Each day nearly 150.000 people move through a structure built for half as many.But by next year it will be transformed.with 400 tonnes of undulating steel cladding and a vaguely eyeball appearance.The station will have"the wow factor",boasts Sir Albert Bore,the leader of Birmingham city council.It will also show how much attitudes to railway stations have changed.Railxvay stations are the chief exception to the rule that Britain invests too little in infrastructure.Of the I 7 big termini managed by Network Rail,the owner of Britain's tracks,11 are being redeveloped or have recently been completed.Five other stations,including Reading and Northampton,are being spruced up by local councils and Network Rail.Somc simply need to be expanded:the number of train journeys has risen by 35%since 2005.But the design of New Street suggests aspirations well beyond more easeful travel.The building would not look out of place in Dubai and is striking,if slightly incongruous,in the grey West Midlands.City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bernard Zissman,chaiman of the independent design paneL"Twenty or thirty years ago business people were more likely to arrive in a city by car,"explains Jon Neale of Jones Lang LaSatle,a property specialist.Town planners duly carved out motorways and roundabouts to entice them.In 1962 a local politician claimed that a new design for Birmingham,involving an inner ring road,would make it"one ofthe finest city centres in Europe".Cities now measure their appeal by their stations.Businesses cluster around them:at King's Cross,a once-grimy part of north London,a postcode has been created for all the new buildings around the station,which was redeveloped in 2013.John Lewis,an upmarket department store,will open in the mall above New Street（which is indeed called"Grand Central"）along with 60 0ther shops.The council hopes it will pull in visitors to the city.Such ambition recalls the stations ofthe 19th century.Those structures"spoke to the corporate sensibility of a city,"says Tristram Hunt,an MP and historian,by combining commerce with the sheen of civic pride.The first New Street station,built in 1851,had the largest single-span roofin the country at the time.It was tom down by enthusiastic 1960s town planners.Now some ofits original lustre may retum.It can be inferred from the text that the aspiration ofNew Street design is____.A.to produce more comfortable travelB.to improve the city's infrastructureC.to build a landmark placeD.to make the railway station a finest city center in Europe
Text 1 In January commuters voted Birmingham New Street one of Britain's worst railway stations.Each day nearly 150.000 people move through a structure built for half as many.But by next year it will be transformed.with 400 tonnes of undulating steel cladding and a vaguely eyeball appearance.The station will have"the wow factor",boasts Sir Albert Bore,the leader of Birmingham city council.It will also show how much attitudes to railway stations have changed.Railxvay stations are the chief exception to the rule that Britain invests too little in infrastructure.Of the I 7 big termini managed by Network Rail,the owner of Britain's tracks,11 are being redeveloped or have recently been completed.Five other stations,including Reading and Northampton,are being spruced up by local councils and Network Rail.Somc simply need to be expanded:the number of train journeys has risen by 35%since 2005.But the design of New Street suggests aspirations well beyond more easeful travel.The building would not look out of place in Dubai and is striking,if slightly incongruous,in the grey West Midlands.City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bernard Zissman,chaiman of the independent design paneL"Twenty or thirty years ago business people were more likely to arrive in a city by car,"explains Jon Neale of Jones Lang LaSatle,a property specialist.Town planners duly carved out motorways and roundabouts to entice them.In 1962 a local politician claimed that a new design for Birmingham,involving an inner ring road,would make it"one ofthe finest city centres in Europe".Cities now measure their appeal by their stations.Businesses cluster around them:at King's Cross,a once-grimy part of north London,a postcode has been created for all the new buildings around the station,which was redeveloped in 2013.John Lewis,an upmarket department store,will open in the mall above New Street（which is indeed called"Grand Central"）along with 60 0ther shops.The council hopes it will pull in visitors to the city.Such ambition recalls the stations ofthe 19th century.Those structures"spoke to the corporate sensibility of a city,"says Tristram Hunt,an MP and historian,by combining commerce with the sheen of civic pride.The first New Street station,built in 1851,had the largest single-span roofin the country at the time.It was tom down by enthusiastic 1960s town planners.Now some ofits original lustre may retum.
It can be inferred from the text that the aspiration ofNew Street design is____.
It can be inferred from the text that the aspiration ofNew Street design is____.
A.to produce more comfortable travel
B.to improve the city's infrastructure
C.to build a landmark place
D.to make the railway station a finest city center in Europe
B.to improve the city's infrastructure
C.to build a landmark place
D.to make the railway station a finest city center in Europe
参考解析
解析：事实细节题。根据定位词定位在文章的第三段，定位词出现在第二句，但是建造火车站的最终目的在结尾处有体现，即City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bemard Zissman，chairman of the independent design paneJ．（独立设计小组主席Bemard Zissman爵士解释说，城市规划者想要建设一些像纽约的中央车站一样的具有里程碑意义的建筑物。）与这一信息相对应的选项为C项to build a landmark place“建设一个地标”，故C项为正确选项。【干扰排除】A项虽然在段落中有体现，但是文中说改良的初衷不仅仅是提供“更舒适的旅行”，因此该选项排除。B项是比较符合客观事实的信息，但在段落中没有体现。D项在段落中也没有体现，因此也应当排除。
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DImagine，one day，getting out of bed in Beijing and being at your office in Shanghai in only a couple of hours，and then，after a full day of work，going back home to Beijing and having dinner there．Sounds unusual，doesn't it? But it's not that unrealistic，with the development of China’s high—speed railway system．And that’s not a11．China has an even greater high—speed railway plan—to connect the country with Southeast Asia，and eventually Eastern Europe．China is negotiating to extend its own high·-speed railway network to up to 17 countries in 1 0 to 15 years，eventually reaching London and Singapore．China has proposed three such projects．The first would possibly connect Kunming withSingapore via Vietnam and Malaysia．Another could start in Urumqi and go through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan，and possibly to Germany．The third would start in the northeast and go north through Russia and then into Western Europe．If China’s plan for the high-speed railway goes forward，people could zip over from London to Beiling in under two days．The new system would still follow China’s high—speed railway standard．And the trains would be able to go 346 kilometers an hour，almost as fast as some airplanes．China’s bullet train(高速客车)，the one connecting Wuhan to Guangzhou，already has the World’s fastest average speed．It covers 1,069 kilometers in about three hours． Of course，there are some technical challenges to overcome．There are so many issues that need to be settled，such as safety，rail gauge(轨距)，maintenance of railway tracks．So，it’s important to pay attention to every detail．But the key issue is really money．China is already spending hundreds of billions of yuan on domestic railway expansion．China prefers that the other countries pay in natural resources rath er than with capital investment．Resources from those countries could stream into China to sustain development．It’11 be a win-win project. For other countries，the railway network will definitely create more opportunities for business，tourism and so on，not to mention the better communication among those countnes．For China，such a project would not only connect it with the rest of Asia and bring some much-needed resources，but would also help develop China’s far west．We foresee that in the coming decades，millions of people will migrate to the western regions，where the land is empty and resources unused．With high-speed trains，people will set up factories and business centers in the west once and for a11．And they’11 trade with Central Asian and Eastern European countries．67．China’s new high-speed railway plan will be a win-win project because ．A．China will get much-needed resources and develop its western regionsB．China and the countries involved will benefit from the project in various waysC．China will develop its railway system and communication with other countriesD． the foreign countries involved will develop their railway transportation，business and tourism
_________the new pop singer built her first album piece by piece.A． Over a year and a halfB． Over half and a yearC． Over one and a half yearD． Over year and half
Passage FourEvery culture and every country in the world celebrates New Year, but not everyone does it the same way. The countries in North America and Europe welcome New Year on January the first. This practice began with the Romans in the Middle East, New Year is when spring begins. People in China and Vietnam celebrate it on the first day of the Spring Festival, which is the first day of their calendar based on the moon. Rosh Hashana, which is the Jewish (犹太人的) New Year, comes at the end of summer. The Hindus (印度教教徒 ) in India celebrate the first day of each season, so they have four New Years.In all these cultures, there is a practice of making noise. People made noise in ancient times to drive away the evil spirits (妖精) from their homes. Today making noise is more of a custom than a religious rimIn the United States, many people stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve to watch the clock pass from one year to the next. Friends often gather together at a party on New Year's Eve, and when the new year comes, all ring bells, blow' whistles, sing songs, and kiss each other. A favorite Scottish song which everyone sings together is Auld Lang Sync. The words tell of old friends and good times.In all cultures, New Year's Day is a time when people think of new beginnings. They want to make the coming year better than the last one. Many people in the United States make New Year resolutions. These are specific promises that they make to improve their behavior, change their habits, and become better people. There are many jokes about how a person keeps his or her New Year resolutions.48. In ancient times, the practice of making noise was meant ______.A. to keep the evil spirits awayB. to have funC. to celebrate the coming of the new yearD. to keep to a custom
A New Year resolution is ______.A. made to begin a new yearB. a promise to make a jokeC. a decision to improve oneself and make one a better personD. to be kept for the New Year's Day only
Text 3Who's to blame? The trail of responsibility goes beyond poor maintenance of British railways, say industry critics. Stingy governments-both Labor and Tory-have cut down on investments in trains and rails.ln the mid-1990s a Conservative government pushed through the sale of the entire subsidy-guzzling rail network. Operating franchises were parceled out among private comparues and a separate firm,Railtrack, was awarded ownership of the tracks and stations. In the future, the theory ran back then, the private sector could pay for any improvements-with a little help from the state-and take the blame for any failings.Today surveys show that travelers believe privatization is one of the reasons for the railways 's failures. They ask whether the pursuit of profits is compatible with guaranteeing safety. Worse, splitting the network between companies has made coordination nearly impossible. "The railway was tom apart at privatization and the structure that was put in place was. . . designed, if we are honest, to maximize the proceeds to the Treasury," said Railtrack boss Gerald Corbett before resigning last month in the wake of the Hatfield crash.Generally, the contrasts with mainland Europe are stark. Over the past few decades the Germans, French and Italians have invested 50 percent more than the British in transportation infrastructure. As a result, a web of high-speed trains now crisscross the Continent, funded by governments willing to commit state funds to major capital projects. Spain is currently planning l,000 miles of new high- speed track.ln France superfast trains already shuttle between all major cities, often on dedicated lines. And in Britain? When the Eurostar trains that link Paris, London and Brussels emerge from the Channel Tunnel onto British soil and join the crowded local network, they must slow down from 186 mph to a maximum of 100 mph-and they usually have to go even slower.For once, the government is listening. After all, commuters are voters, too. In a pre-vote spending spree, the govemment has committed itself to huge investment in transportation, as well as education and the public health service. Over the next 10 years, the railways should get an extra ￡60 billion, partly through higher subsidies to the private companies. As Blair ackoowledged last month, " Britain has been underinvested in and investment is central to Britain's future. " You don't have to tell the 3 million passengers who use the railways every day. Last week trains to Darlington were an hour late-and crawling at Locomotion No.l speeds.51. In the first paragraph, the author tries to[ A] trace the tragedy to its defective origin.[ B] remind people of Britain's glonous past.[ C] explain the failure of Britain's rail network.[ D] call for impartiality in assessing the situation.
The United States grows nearly _____ of the world's grain and supplies a half of all the exports of grain in the world. A.one thirdB.one fourthC.one sixthD.one seventh
Mr. Smith will stay in China for ________. A.one and a half yearsB.one and a half yearC.one and half yearD.half and one year
Everybody sleeps,but what people stay up late to catch—or wake up early in order not to miss—varies by culture.Fromdata collected,it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep,on average,are sporting events,time changes,andholidays.Around the world,people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time.Russians,forexample,began to wake up about a half hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to“winter time”starting on October 26.Russia’s other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays.On New Year’s Eve,Russians have the world’s latest bedtime,hitting the hay at around 3:30 am.Russians also get up an hour later on International Women’sDay,the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly,Americans’late nights late mornings,and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends.Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation,the worst night for sleep in the U.K.was the night of theEngland-Italy match on June 14.Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it,and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights,the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime.That was nothing,though,compared to Germans,Italians,and the French,who stayed up around an hour and a half later onvarious days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns,in some of these nations,it’s likelythat only the richest people do.And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person.Even if that’s the case,though,the above findings are still striking,if the most health-conscious among us have such deepswings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year,how much sleep are the rest of us losing What does the author say about people’s sleeping habits 《》（）A.They are culture-relatedB.They affect people’s health.C.They change with the seasons.D.They vary from person to person.
Everybody sleeps,but what people stay up late to catch—or wake up early in order not to miss—varies by culture.Fromdata collected,it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep,on average,are sporting events,time changes,andholidays.Around the world,people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time.Russians,forexample,began to wake up about a half hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to“winter time”starting on October 26.Russia’s other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays.On New Year’s Eve,Russians have the world’s latest bedtime,hitting the hay at around 3:30 am.Russians also get up an hour later on International Women’sDay,the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly,Americans’late nights late mornings,and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends.Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation,the worst night for sleep in the U.K.was the night of theEngland-Italy match on June 14.Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it,and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights,the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime.That was nothing,though,compared to Germans,Italians,and the French,who stayed up around an hour and a half later onvarious days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns,in some of these nations,it’s likelythat only the richest people do.And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person.Even if that’s the case,though,the above findings are still striking,if the most health-conscious among us have such deepswings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year,how much sleep are the rest of us losing What is a greater concern of the general public 《》（）A.Recession.B.Deflation.C.Inequality.D.Income.
Everybody sleeps,but what people stay up late to catch—or wake up early in order not to miss—varies by culture.Fromdata collected,it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep,on average,are sporting events,time changes,andholidays.Around the world,people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time.Russians,forexample,began to wake up about a half hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to“winter time”starting on October 26.Russia’s other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays.On New Year’s Eve,Russians have the world’s latest bedtime,hitting the hay at around 3:30 am.Russians also get up an hour later on International Women’sDay,the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly,Americans’late nights late mornings,and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends.Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation,the worst night for sleep in the U.K.was the night of theEngland-Italy match on June 14.Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it,and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights,the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime.That was nothing,though,compared to Germans,Italians,and the French,who stayed up around an hour and a half later onvarious days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns,in some of these nations,it’s likelythat only the richest people do.And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person.Even if that’s the case,though,the above findings are still striking,if the most health-conscious among us have such deepswings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year,how much sleep are the rest of us losing What is Yellen likely to do in her position as the Fed chief 《》（）A.Develop a new monetary programB.Public confidence.C.Tighten financial regulation.D.Reform the credit system.
Everybody sleeps,but what people stay up late to catch—or wake up early in order not to miss—varies by culture.Fromdata collected,it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep,on average,are sporting events,time changes,andholidays.Around the world,people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time.Russians,forexample,began to wake up about a half hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to“winter time”starting on October 26.Russia’s other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays.On New Year’s Eve,Russians have the world’s latest bedtime,hitting the hay at around 3:30 am.Russians also get up an hour later on International Women’sDay,the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly,Americans’late nights late mornings,and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends.Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation,the worst night for sleep in the U.K.was the night of theEngland-Italy match on June 14.Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it,and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights,the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime.That was nothing,though,compared to Germans,Italians,and the French,who stayed up around an hour and a half later onvarious days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns,in some of these nations,it’s likelythat only the richest people do.And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person.Even if that’s the case,though,the above findings are still striking,if the most health-conscious among us have such deepswings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year,how much sleep are the rest of us losing What do we learn about the Russians regarding sleep 《》（）A.They don’t fall asleep until very late.B.They don’t sleep much on weekends.C.They get less sleep on public holidays.D.They sleep longer than people elsewhere.
Everybody sleeps,but what people stay up late to catch—or wake up early in order not to miss—varies by culture.Fromdata collected,it seems the things that cause us to lose the most sleep,on average,are sporting events,time changes,andholidays.Around the world,people changed sleep patterns thanks to the start or end of daylight savings time.Russians,forexample,began to wake up about a half hour later each day after President Vladimir Putin shifted the country permanently to“winter time”starting on October 26.Russia’s other late nights and early mornings generally correspond to public holidays.On New Year’s Eve,Russians have the world’s latest bedtime,hitting the hay at around 3:30 am.Russians also get up an hour later on International Women’sDay,the day for treating and celebrating female relatives.Similarly,Americans’late nights late mornings,and longest sleeps fall on three-day weekends.Canada got the least sleep of the year the night it beat Sweden in the Olympic hockey final.The World Cup is also chiefly responsible for sleep deprivation,the worst night for sleep in the U.K.was the night of theEngland-Italy match on June 14.Brits stayed up a half-hour later to watch it,and then they woke up earlier than usual the next morning thanks to summer nights,the phenomenon in which the sun barely sets in northern countries in the summertime.That was nothing,though,compared to Germans,Italians,and the French,who stayed up around an hour and a half later onvarious days throughout the summer to watch the Cup.It should be made clear that not everyone has a device to record their sleep patterns,in some of these nations,it’s likelythat only the richest people do.And people who elect to track their sleep may try to get more sleep than the average person.Even if that’s the case,though,the above findings are still striking,if the most health-conscious among us have such deepswings in our shut-eye levels throughout the year,how much sleep are the rest of us losing How does Alan Blinder portray Yellen 《》（）A.She possesses strong persuasive power.B.She has confidence in what she is doing.C.She is one of the world’s greatest economists.D.She is the most powerful Fed chief in history.
From: Camille StoneTo: All employeesSubject: Next week's faculty meetingDate: Tuesday, January 6Hello,Because next week's holiday falls on a Thursday, we will have to reschedule our weekly faculty meeting to Friday. Please meet in the faculty room by 5 P.M. on Friday January 16. If you're taking Friday as a vacation day, please let Shirley in the general affairs know by Wednesday.Thank you and enjoy your day off!CamilleOn what day is the holiday?A. TuesdayB. WednesdayC. ThursdayD. Friday.
Text 1 In January commuters voted Birmingham New Street one of Britain's worst railway stations.Each day nearly 150.000 people move through a structure built for half as many.But by next year it will be transformed.with 400 tonnes of undulating steel cladding and a vaguely eyeball appearance.The station will have"the wow factor",boasts Sir Albert Bore,the leader of Birmingham city council.It will also show how much attitudes to railway stations have changed.Railxvay stations are the chief exception to the rule that Britain invests too little in infrastructure.Of the I 7 big termini managed by Network Rail,the owner of Britain's tracks,11 are being redeveloped or have recently been completed.Five other stations,including Reading and Northampton,are being spruced up by local councils and Network Rail.Somc simply need to be expanded:the number of train journeys has risen by 35%since 2005.But the design of New Street suggests aspirations well beyond more easeful travel.The building would not look out of place in Dubai and is striking,if slightly incongruous,in the grey West Midlands.City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bernard Zissman,chaiman of the independent design paneL"Twenty or thirty years ago business people were more likely to arrive in a city by car,"explains Jon Neale of Jones Lang LaSatle,a property specialist.Town planners duly carved out motorways and roundabouts to entice them.In 1962 a local politician claimed that a new design for Birmingham,involving an inner ring road,would make it"one ofthe finest city centres in Europe".Cities now measure their appeal by their stations.Businesses cluster around them:at King's Cross,a once-grimy part of north London,a postcode has been created for all the new buildings around the station,which was redeveloped in 2013.John Lewis,an upmarket department store,will open in the mall above New Street（which is indeed called"Grand Central"）along with 60 0ther shops.The council hopes it will pull in visitors to the city.Such ambition recalls the stations ofthe 19th century.Those structures"spoke to the corporate sensibility of a city,"says Tristram Hunt,an MP and historian,by combining commerce with the sheen of civic pride.The first New Street station,built in 1851,had the largest single-span roofin the country at the time.It was tom down by enthusiastic 1960s town planners.Now some ofits original lustre may retum.The word"cluster"（Para.5）is closest in meaning to____.A.constructionB.shopC.centreD.market
Text 1 In January commuters voted Birmingham New Street one of Britain's worst railway stations.Each day nearly 150.000 people move through a structure built for half as many.But by next year it will be transformed.with 400 tonnes of undulating steel cladding and a vaguely eyeball appearance.The station will have"the wow factor",boasts Sir Albert Bore,the leader of Birmingham city council.It will also show how much attitudes to railway stations have changed.Railxvay stations are the chief exception to the rule that Britain invests too little in infrastructure.Of the I 7 big termini managed by Network Rail,the owner of Britain's tracks,11 are being redeveloped or have recently been completed.Five other stations,including Reading and Northampton,are being spruced up by local councils and Network Rail.Somc simply need to be expanded:the number of train journeys has risen by 35%since 2005.But the design of New Street suggests aspirations well beyond more easeful travel.The building would not look out of place in Dubai and is striking,if slightly incongruous,in the grey West Midlands.City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bernard Zissman,chaiman of the independent design paneL"Twenty or thirty years ago business people were more likely to arrive in a city by car,"explains Jon Neale of Jones Lang LaSatle,a property specialist.Town planners duly carved out motorways and roundabouts to entice them.In 1962 a local politician claimed that a new design for Birmingham,involving an inner ring road,would make it"one ofthe finest city centres in Europe".Cities now measure their appeal by their stations.Businesses cluster around them:at King's Cross,a once-grimy part of north London,a postcode has been created for all the new buildings around the station,which was redeveloped in 2013.John Lewis,an upmarket department store,will open in the mall above New Street（which is indeed called"Grand Central"）along with 60 0ther shops.The council hopes it will pull in visitors to the city.Such ambition recalls the stations ofthe 19th century.Those structures"spoke to the corporate sensibility of a city,"says Tristram Hunt,an MP and historian,by combining commerce with the sheen of civic pride.The first New Street station,built in 1851,had the largest single-span roofin the country at the time.It was tom down by enthusiastic 1960s town planners.Now some ofits original lustre may retum.What used to be the situation in Birmingham railway station?A.Abstract vision.B.The biggest one in England.C.Steel cladding structure.D.One of the most crowded one in Britain.
Text 1 In January commuters voted Birmingham New Street one of Britain's worst railway stations.Each day nearly 150.000 people move through a structure built for half as many.But by next year it will be transformed.with 400 tonnes of undulating steel cladding and a vaguely eyeball appearance.The station will have"the wow factor",boasts Sir Albert Bore,the leader of Birmingham city council.It will also show how much attitudes to railway stations have changed.Railxvay stations are the chief exception to the rule that Britain invests too little in infrastructure.Of the I 7 big termini managed by Network Rail,the owner of Britain's tracks,11 are being redeveloped or have recently been completed.Five other stations,including Reading and Northampton,are being spruced up by local councils and Network Rail.Somc simply need to be expanded:the number of train journeys has risen by 35%since 2005.But the design of New Street suggests aspirations well beyond more easeful travel.The building would not look out of place in Dubai and is striking,if slightly incongruous,in the grey West Midlands.City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bernard Zissman,chaiman of the independent design paneL"Twenty or thirty years ago business people were more likely to arrive in a city by car,"explains Jon Neale of Jones Lang LaSatle,a property specialist.Town planners duly carved out motorways and roundabouts to entice them.In 1962 a local politician claimed that a new design for Birmingham,involving an inner ring road,would make it"one ofthe finest city centres in Europe".Cities now measure their appeal by their stations.Businesses cluster around them:at King's Cross,a once-grimy part of north London,a postcode has been created for all the new buildings around the station,which was redeveloped in 2013.John Lewis,an upmarket department store,will open in the mall above New Street（which is indeed called"Grand Central"）along with 60 0ther shops.The council hopes it will pull in visitors to the city.Such ambition recalls the stations ofthe 19th century.Those structures"spoke to the corporate sensibility of a city,"says Tristram Hunt,an MP and historian,by combining commerce with the sheen of civic pride.The first New Street station,built in 1851,had the largest single-span roofin the country at the time.It was tom down by enthusiastic 1960s town planners.Now some ofits original lustre may retum.According to Paragraph l,what is the author's attitude towards the future ofBirmingham railway station?A.Critical.B.Suspicious.C.Confident.D.Biased.
Text 1 In January commuters voted Birmingham New Street one of Britain's worst railway stations.Each day nearly 150.000 people move through a structure built for half as many.But by next year it will be transformed.with 400 tonnes of undulating steel cladding and a vaguely eyeball appearance.The station will have"the wow factor",boasts Sir Albert Bore,the leader of Birmingham city council.It will also show how much attitudes to railway stations have changed.Railxvay stations are the chief exception to the rule that Britain invests too little in infrastructure.Of the I 7 big termini managed by Network Rail,the owner of Britain's tracks,11 are being redeveloped or have recently been completed.Five other stations,including Reading and Northampton,are being spruced up by local councils and Network Rail.Somc simply need to be expanded:the number of train journeys has risen by 35%since 2005.But the design of New Street suggests aspirations well beyond more easeful travel.The building would not look out of place in Dubai and is striking,if slightly incongruous,in the grey West Midlands.City planners wanted something monumental,like Grand Central station in New York,says Sir Bernard Zissman,chaiman of the independent design paneL"Twenty or thirty years ago business people were more likely to arrive in a city by car,"explains Jon Neale of Jones Lang LaSatle,a property specialist.Town planners duly carved out motorways and roundabouts to entice them.In 1962 a local politician claimed that a new design for Birmingham,involving an inner ring road,would make it"one ofthe finest city centres in Europe".Cities now measure their appeal by their stations.Businesses cluster around them:at King's Cross,a once-grimy part of north London,a postcode has been created for all the new buildings around the station,which was redeveloped in 2013.John Lewis,an upmarket department store,will open in the mall above New Street（which is indeed called"Grand Central"）along with 60 0ther shops.The council hopes it will pull in visitors to the city.Such ambition recalls the stations ofthe 19th century.Those structures"spoke to the corporate sensibility of a city,"says Tristram Hunt,an MP and historian,by combining commerce with the sheen of civic pride.The first New Street station,built in 1851,had the largest single-span roofin the country at the time.It was tom down by enthusiastic 1960s town planners.Now some ofits original lustre may retum.The best title for the text may be______.A.The New Concept of Railway StationB.A Big Failure of Railway StationC.A Feverish Dream of Railway StationD.A Citizen's Planning of Railway Station
共用题干Some Unusual CelebrationsSome holidays are well-known all around the world.Among them are New Year’s Eve celebrations. Also common are days in honor of love and friendship,like Valentine's Day?Each country has its own spe- cial holidays,too,often to mark important events in its history.Schools,banks,and government offices allclose on days like these. ________ (46)A few of them are really very strange.Of course,they are not strange to the people who celebrate them.Perhaps that is because thecelebrations have long traditions.Consider April Fool's Day,for example.No one knows when or why it be- gan.Today it is celebrated in many countries一France,England,and Australia,among others.On this day,people play practical jokes._________(47)The ones who laugh are the ones playing the jokes.The people they fool often get angry,Does celebrating this day make sense to you?Dyngus Day in Poland seems strange,too.On this day,it is traditional for boys to pour water over the heads of girls.Here is the strangest part:They do it to girls they like.Other unusual celebrations take place in a single city or town.A holiday called La Tomatina is celebrated in Bunol,Spain.Every year,in late August,big trucks carry more than 200,000 pounds of tomatoes intothis little town. __________ (48)For two hours,people in the streets throw tomatoes at each other. Every- one ends up red from head to toe.August 10 marks the start of the Puck Fair,an Irish festival with a very unusual tradition.People fromthe town of Killorglin go up into the mountains and catch a wild goat. __________.(49)There are also some celebrations that are really strange.In the United States,sometimes one person gets an idea for a new holiday and tries to get others to accept it.Whose idea was Public Sleeping Day?That one is on February 28.It may seem strange,but it sounds like more fun than the one on February 9. __________ (50)Do you like the idea of inventing a new holiday'1 If you do,then you will want to mark March 26 on your calendar. That is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.__________ (49)A:Some of the days people celebrate,however,are less serious.B:Jokes are supposed to be funny,but these jokes do not make everyone laugh.C:Some people have fun imagining new holidays.D:They bring him back to town,put a crown on his head,and make him king for three days.E:Then begins the world's biggest food fight.F:That is supposed to be Toothache Day.
共用题干What is Chinese New Year?In many parts of Asia,nations follow the lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar used by the rest of the world.______(46)Many nations including Vietnam and Korea celebrate the lunar New Year with festivals and special foods.The Chinese,however,have turned the celebration into an art form:a 15 day festival called the Spring Festival in China,although it is known to the rest of the world as Chinese New Year.______(47)which is considered to be a particularly auspicious day.Children are given hong bao,lucky red envelopes full of money,and households exchange visits and gifts. Most celebrants at Chinese New Year wear red,which is a lucky color,and also refrain from reflecting on the past year and uttering unlucky words,as it is believed that the first day of the new year will determine your fortune in the months to come.Chinese New Year continues with 15 days of celebration and auspicious days,including a day to welcome the god of wealth,a day to celebrate farming and produce,and days to celebrate friends and family. Friendships and family relationships are a very important part of Chinese New Year,______(48)Numerous lucky foods are served throughout the Chinese New Year festival,and after all that rich dining,the 13th day of the festival is set aside for eating rice and bitter greens to cleanse the palate. on the 15th day,the Chinese New Year celebration culminates with the Lantern Festival, which is traditionally held at night. During the Lantern Festival,hundreds of citizens flood the street with lanterns representing wealth,animals,historical figures,plants,and a variety of other things.______(49)The Lantern Festival ends with a burst of fireworks to celebrate the upcoming year while celebrants eat special round dumplings to celebrate unity.In Vietnam,the new year festival is known as Tet Nguyen Dan,and is celebrated for seven days. Much like Chinese New Year,Tet is believed to be an especially auspicious period in Vietnam which will establish the fortunes of celebrants for the coming year.______(50)In Korea, the one day festival is known as Sol-nal,and is a time to reflect on ancestors and family.______(47)A: and a great deal of food and dinner invitations are exchanged as part of this tradition.B: The lanterns are paraded through towns and cities throughout China,Taiwan,and parts of the world with large Chinese communities.C: As a result,the year starts on a different day,usually in January or February by the Gregorian calendar.D: Chinese New Year is the most important festival in Chinese culture.E: Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first moon of the year.F: Special foods are eaten and gifts are exchanged.
I paid（）for the new book.A、half poundB、one pound and halfC、one and a half poundsD、one and half a pound
单选题Nearly half the world’s population ______.Astill lives in the developing countriesBearns less than $1 a dayChas no access to safe drinking waterD1ives on less than $2 a day
问答题More than one million young people in Britain are unemployed, the highest number since the mid-1980s.
单选题What can be inferred about job hunting?APeople who are well paid don’t need to change jobs.BPeople have the same motivation for changing jobs.CFinding a new job is seldom on people’s New Year resolution.DWorkers are in greater demand in January than in December.
单选题When will this new program be initiated?AImmediately.BAt the start of the next month.COn the first day of the new year.DThe announcement does not say.
单选题By the end of last week 611 people from 49 countries _____ to attend the meeting, with nearly half coming from the United States, Germany and Britain.Ahad registeredBhave registeredCregisteredDwere registered
单选题APeople who are well paid don’t need to change jobs.BPeople have the same motivation for changing jobs.CFinding a new job is seldom on people’s New Year resolution.DWorkers are in greater demand in January than in December.