Government officials suggest that Chinese people will take to the air, roads and railways 3.62 billion times over a 40-day period around the nation's most important holiday this year as people push their way home for family gatherings or to satisfy their new-found passion for travel.
Getting tickets to all those would-be travelers is a discounting challenge that tries your patience annually. And the pressure for the railway system is always the greatest. Railways are the transport of choice for low-cost long-distance travel, and that's where the ticketing system regularly falls down.
Much of the criticism has focused on the railway's online purchasing system, which has been unable to keep pace with the huge demand and also failed to stop scalpers (票贩子) from easily getting many of the hard-to-find tickets.
Railway officials believed that online sales were the fairest way to get tickets for travelers, and told reporters that the public need to be patient. While by now the railway service is far from satisfying, efforts are being made to provide online identity checks that would reduce the ticket scalping problems, and the situation is expected to get better in a few years. Meanwhile, for those traveling by car, good news is that the country's extremely expensive highway tolls (通行费) will be removed for the period of the official holiday.
1. Which of the following words can replace the underlined word "discounting" in Paragraph 3?
A.Pleasing. | B.Rewarding. |
C.Promising. | D.Discouraging. |
A.is convenient for travelers |
B.costs more money |
C.requires great patience |
D.is just a piece of cake |
A.there will be 3.62 billion people going home |
B.many people have to buy railway tickets from scalpers |
C.the railway system will break down as usual |
D.not railways but cars are the best choices for traveling |
A.Optimistic. | B.Doubtful. |
C.Satisfied. | D.Worried. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】
If you are coming to Bondi Beach, a suburb of Sydney, try to leave your car at home. Public transport in Sydney is pretty dismal but parking can be even more of a problem at the beach.
Bus Service
All buses from the city start from Circular Quay and the ride to Bondi Beach takes 45 minutes. The bus may be numbered 380 or 333 with the destination showing North Bondi, Dover Heights, Watsons Bay or Bondi Beach. Together this is called “the 380 bus” and all buses go to Bondi Beach.
Other Bus Adventures
Apart from the well-known 380, lots of other bus services wind their way through the back streets. Bus drivers, trying to be helpful, will not suggest any of these routes for fear your trip will take longer or you will become lost. But here are a few worth trying:
The 389 bus runs every 10 minutes all day (20 minutes on Sundays and 30 min after 8pm daily) and goes through the historic back streets of Paddington, following the route of an old trolley car service. You will pass a whole street of coffee shops in East Sydney, past the gates of the DarlinghurstGaol, through streets lined with terrace houses (联排公寓), then on to Bondi Junction. The 389 travels along GlenayrAenue at Bondi Beach which is a long block but a level walk to the beach.
The 400 Bus goes to the University of NSW, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Eastgardens and the Airport. This bus runs every five minutes on weekdays and every 10 minutes on weekends. Service are less frequent after 7pm and finish around 11pm. For shopperholics, the 400 takes you directly to the Eastgardens Shopping Centre. Every 20 minutes a 400 bus continues on to the Domestic and International airport terminals.
The 380 bus to Watsons Bay terminates at North Bondi, but some 380 buses continue on to Watsons Bay, which is a great excursion for tourists. At Watsons Bay there is famous lookout, great views of the harbour and the ocean, a hotel and several cafes, a 30-minute walk to South Head, other bus routes and even a ferry service back to Circular Quay.
1. The underlined word “dismal” is closest to __________ in meaning.A.available | B.efficient | C.fundamental | D.terrible |
A.it goes directly to the destination | B.it is the safest bus line |
C.it satisfies various appeals | D.it provides best travel experience |
A.the 300 bus | B.the 380 bus | C.the 389 bus | D.the 400 bus |
【推荐2】A fully electric seaplane has made its first flight over the mouth of the Fraser River near Vancouver, Canada. The flight represents a milestone in the long process of reducing the aviation industry’s emissions and costs by electrifying short-to-medium distance commercial flying.
Several hundred people crowded the river bank on Tuesday morning to witness what they hoped would be a historic moment. They were not disappointed. Among cheers, the battery-powered Harbour Air seaplane lifted off into the sky. The plane flew a short round-trip downriver before landing five minutes later.
“It was magical. It was much quieter than I had expected it to be,” said Nicki Malcom, one witness from Auburn, Washington. “It’s definitely the future,” said Chip Jamison, who came from Portland to see the electric plane he produced parts for. “You can see it with automobiles. Planes are next. It's right in front of us.”
The test pilot was the only person on board the six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver. He was the CEO and founder of Habour Air, Greg McDougall. McDougall’s seaplane airline teamed up with a Redmond, Washington-based electric motor maker named Magnix to transform the classic de Havilland Beaver plane. Magnix CEO Roei Ganzarski sees the seaplane's first flight as a milestone, similar to the first jet takeoff.
“Today you witnessed the first shot of the electric aviation revolution,” Ganzarski told the two companies' staff, contractors, media and other celebrators. “Let’s start the revolution.” Ganzarski laid out a case for how battery-powered flight offers lower noise, zero pollution and could reduce fuel and maintenance costs. “Lower operating costs for airlines like Harbour Air will mean lower ticket prices for all of you,” he said. “Lower operating costs mean they can now fly to more destinations that we couldn’t fly to before.”
It will be some time before regular folks can book a ticket on a clean, electric seaplane.
1. According to the passage, the Harbour Air seaplane________.A.is adapted from the de Havilland Beaver | B.will replace the automobile in the near future |
C.can carry more than six passengers | D.has investment from the Vancouver government |
A.Critical. | B.Objective. | C.Optimistic. | D.Ambiguous. |
A.Electric seaplanes only help cut down air pollution and costs. |
B.People can fly to more destinations in less time on battery-powered planes. |
C.The seaplane’s first flight symbolizes the success of the electric aviation revolution. |
D.People may get cheaper tickets by taking electric seaplanes. |
A.It is the most effective way to cut down air pollution. |
B.It promises huge profits for airlines due to lower operating costs. |
C.It employs more advanced technology compared to automobiles. |
D.It triggers the electric aviation revolution with regard to low emissions and costs. |
Sydney’s train service runs throughout the central city area and the surroundings. Tickets can be bought from machines that operate 24 hours a day or from ticket offices. The monorail(单轨火车) travels through central Sydney. It is the most excellent way to gain a good view of the whole city. The monorail runs every three to five minutes, and it takes 15 minutes to complete its journey.
Sydney is built around a harbor, and the Parramatta River has a large ferry(渡船) system. It serves the area around the harbor. These include Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbor, Rose Bay, the North Shore, Cockatoo Island and Sydney Olympic Park. The ferries have operated for more than 135 years and 14 million passengers take the ferries each year.
Water taxis can offer special services that some visitors enjoy, such as transporting passengers to specific locations, offering guided tours of waterways and so on. The tickets sell for 20 Australian dollars for a day or 57 Australian dollars for a week. It is strange,isn’t it?
1. What should people take when getting on the bus in Sydney?
A.Cash | B.Tickets | C.Change | D.Bank cards |
A.can stop the bus at any time |
B.can visit the city at night |
C.should buy two tickets to get on and off the bus |
D.can get on and off the bus many times with a ticket |
A.By monorail | B.By bus |
C.By train | D.By ferry |
A.It is much faster. |
B.It is much cheaper. |
C.It can reach more places. |
D.It can provide special services. |
With the ideal time for harvesting fresh tea leaves approaching, locals celebrated the beginning of the tea-picking season with a spirited ceremony held at Jingmai Mountain in Yunnan province.
This annual event, which takes place towards the end of March, is a tradition among local minorities. Having been around for centuries, it is a perfect opportunity to show respect for the tea forest before harvesting the gifts of nature. Jingmai Mountain, renowned for its thick forests of ancient tea trees, has been an essential part of the locals’ lives for centuries. People there maintain an ancient method of tea cultivation featuring a unique multi-layered (层) ecosystem, which is regarded as the key to maintaining harmony between humans and nature.
The village has been located halfway up the mountain, close to the tea forest in the middle of the mountain, while farmland is in lower areas with abundant water sources, which can avoid disturbance to tea forests during planting.
The ancient tea forests are now refreshing as the younger generations are introducing new ideas aimed at better developing the tea industry in this area. Xian Gong, 39, started a farmers’ cooperative in 2010 in Jingmai village. Over time, she expanded the initiative by developing it into a company integrating the cooperative, a tea factory, a hostel and a shop under one roof. Today, the tea gardens cover an area of more than 600 hectares and generate an annual output of more than 200 tons, helping nearly 500 households increase their incomes.
A growing number of villagers are embracing new business opportunities by establishing cooperatives, tea factories and homestays. Many have adapted to the latest trends, such as selling tea through live streaming and sharing details of their daily lives and work on social media platforms.
The recent boom in the modern tea industry has motivated the residents to take better care of their ancient tea forests. In addition to their efforts to resist using chemicals and avoid planting other crops in the tea forests, the local government has applied over 20 rules and regulations for the protection of precious ancient tea forests. They hold a strong belief that the tea mountain is the most valuable gift left by their ancestors and it is their due responsibility to protect and make good use of it.
1. Why do the locals celebrate the beginning of the tea-picking season?2. What is the key feature of the ancient method of tea cultivation?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, and then underline it and explain why.
It is only due to the efforts made by the local residents that the ancient tea forests have been protected.
4. Give another example which mirrors human-nature harmony.
【推荐2】For a scholar focusing on Australia’s public diplomacy (外交活动), working as a recreational manager in China may never be part of his career path. But Bradley does have lots to say now about his special experience at a resort in the picturesque tropical coastal city of Sanya in South China’s Hainan province.
The 33-year-old Australian is actually a student in international relations completing his PhD through Griffith University. He came to Beijing for a cooperative research at Peking University less than two years ago. Such an academic life was just added color with a chance offered by the cultural exchanges project, “I’m in China”.
“What I liked most about the experience was it was something completely different that you would never be able to do as a regular tourist,” Bradley said in an interview. Bradley was chosen to work as a recreational manager for a Chinese wedding.
The film crew took them to many “amazing sites” and the staff at the resort taught them a lot about how to “incorporate modern Chinese features while still keeping traditional customs”, Bradley said.
“I would have to say two things stick out as the most memorable: the helicopter ride and talking with the staff at the hotel about how to organize weddings here in China,” he said.
That was Bradley’s first time to be in a helicopter, and he was too absorbed with the “stunning” view of the beautiful coastline.
“I think it is so important to show other Australians the different landscapes China has to offer. I think so many Australians, when they think about China, imagine the historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things to see in Shanghai but have no idea about other beautiful places, like Sanya or the many other places people have been taken to in this TV series,” Bradley said.
“I’m in China” is a project sponsored by China Intercontinental Communication Centre and other institutions under the guidance of China’s State Council Information Office. It invites foreign natives worldwide to experience unique jobs and participate in activities that one can find nowhere else except in China. More than 10,000 photos and articles were submitted from around the globe by over 6,00 applicants.
1. What does Bradley actually do?A.He’s an Australian PhD student. | B.He’s a regular Australian tourist. |
C.He’s a professional recreational manager. | D.He’s an Australian diplomat. |
A.Get rid of. | B.Turn down. | C.Take in. | D.Keep off. |
A.The beautiful scenery of Sanya and special activities. |
B.Flying in a helicopter and organizing Chinese wedding. |
C.The historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things in Shanghai. |
D.Chinese traditional customs and many amazing sites. |
A.unique but unattractive to foreigners |
B.special but helpless to know about China |
C.uninteresting and rejected by foreigners |
D.unique and popular with foreigners |
【推荐3】China is known as a state of manners and ceremony. Many proverbs have been passed down from generation to generation such as “polite behavior costs nothing” or “showing respect each other” and so on. For instance, there is an interesting short story. Once upon a time, a man went on a long tour to visit his friend with a swan as a gift. But it escaped from the cage on the way. Though he tried hard, he got hold of nothing but a feather. Instead of returning home, he continued his journey with the swan feather. When his friend received this unexpected gift, he was deeply moved. And the saying “The gift is nothing much, but it’s the thought that counts.” was spread far and wide.
Chinese used to cup one hand in the other before the chest as a greeting. This tradition has a history of more than 2, 000 years and nowadays it is seldom used except in the Spring Festival. And shaking hands is more popular. Bowing, as to show respect to the higher level, is often used by the lower like subordinates(下级), students, and attendants. But at present Chinese youngsters prefer to simply nod as a greeting.
When you start a talk with a stranger, the topics such as weather, food, or hobbies may be good choices to break the ice. For a man, a chat about sports, stock market or his job can usually go on smoothly. Similar to Western customs, you should be careful to ask a woman private questions. However, relaxing talks about her job or family life will never put you into danger. Though Chinese are said to be implicit(含蓄的), they are actually humorous enough to be pleased about the jokes of Americans.
1. What’s the purpose of telling a story about sending a swan feather?A.To make you pleased. |
B.To tell us that many proverbs have been passed down in China. |
C.To introduce the next paragraph. |
D.To give us an example about Chinese interesting story. |
A.Figures out | B.Comes to |
C.Means a lot | D.Calculates |
A.the Chinese body language |
B.the way the lower show respect to the higher |
C.the traditional Chinese manners |
D.the development of Chinese manners |
A.Chinese proverbs | B.Chinese humor |
C.Chinese manners | D.Chinese body languages |
【推荐1】Parents will do anything for their children. Whether it would be the food, clothes, or the place they live in, parents will always make sure their children have the best of everything. One of the biggest concerns that parents currently have is educating their children. They are faced with lots of difficulties when it comes to education for their young ones. Choices include private school, charter school, public school or home schooling.
Fortunately for parents, there are a variety of different strategies that they can take in order to increase their child’s overall intelligence. According to Ross A. Thompson, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis, a child’s brain will actually reach 90% of its full size by the time they start kindergarten.
Researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago concluded that playing a musical instrument directly affected the brain stem, the lower section of the brain. Moreover, children that learn an instrument at an early age tend to continue it when they are older. And numerous studies show that a well balanced meal is essential for a child’s mental as well as physical health. Some other researchers recommended that a second language should be taught when children are in preschool. They state that three to four years of age is the perfect time and that any age under four would work perfectly fine for a child’s brain development.
The average child will learn how to read between kindergarten and second grade. Many parents can give their children a jump start by teaching them to read before they start school. Children could have an adequate background of the alphabet and sounds of words before attending school. This can be done by simply reading to them whenever you want. The more comfortable they get, the easier the process will be.
1. From the first paragraph, we can infer that .A.parents find it hard to satisfy their kids’ various demands |
B.parents meet a new challenge when raising their kids |
C.parents have more choices in offering education to their kids |
D.parents get actively involved in the process of their kids’ growth |
A.To train kids as early as possible. |
B.To try as many means as possible. |
C.To help kids develop as fully as possible. |
D.To use as many available resources as possible. |
A.The proper time to teach children to learn languages. |
B.The effective ways to help develop children’s brains. |
C.The vital factors to have a great effect on children’s health. |
D.The practical steps to arouse children’s interest in study. |
A.inspiration | B.introduction |
C.suggestion | D.promotion |
【推荐2】Inventions are always coming to make our lives easier,greener and more interesting.
Iron Man Suit,XS 2
A Flying Jet
Now Glen Martin's invention is ready to take off. The Martin Jet allows its operator to fly 8000 feet into the air. Unfortunately,you can’t fly through the skies too long. The jet holds only 30 minutes’ worth of oil fuel.
The EMIEW 2 robot is the perfect office helper. Need a document delivered? No problem! It can also guide visitors to their destinations. The three-foot-tall robot can identify different human voices and respond to commands.
Green Machine
Say goodbye to gasoline(汽油)! The AirPod car runs on air power.
Beef Power
All aboard the beef train] The train runs partly on fuel that is made from cow fat. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions(碳排放)by 10%. The train travels between Oklahoma and Texas.
Robot-Guard
EMILY is a robot. She can swim through riptides(激流)at up to 24 miles per hour.
A.Hardworking Robot |
B.Environmentally-friendly Robot |
C.Have you ever dreamed of becoming a superhero? |
D.That means this car won't pollute the environment. |
E.The EMIEW 2 robot may be popular with moderns companies. |
F.Her inventor, Tony, says that's 15 times as fast as human lifeguards! |
G.Take a look at the following breakthroughs in science and technology. |
【推荐3】Can you still remember the things happening when you were a child? Grownups are often amazed by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials (尝试) increase the length of time we will remember it.
In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.
The multiplication tables (乘法口诀表) are an exception to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.
The law of overlearning explains why cramming (突击学习) for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one’s future development.
1. What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us?A.Children have a better memory than grownups. |
B.People remember well what they learned in childhood. |
C.Poem reading is a good way to learn words. |
D.Stories for children are easy to remember. |
A.presenting research findings | B.setting down general rules |
C.giving examples | D.making a comparison |
A.a result of overlearning | B.a special case of cramming |
C.a skill to deal with math problems | D.a basic step towards advanced studies |
A.Commonly accepted rules. | B.School subjects. |
C.Things easily forgotten. | D.The multiplication tables. |