A city without cars would be very strange, right? But Venice is such a city.

Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands.  Seawater is everywhere around the city.

Even so, travel isn't difficult. The waterways have always been the best way to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go. People in Venice move from place to place by boat. They like to enjoy the scenery and cool summer nights while taking boat trips.  They can talk to other people as they go along.

Venice grew out of small islands in saltwater lakes when some Italians escaped from a war more than 1,500 years ago, and built homes there.

Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem.

Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years.  This has made the ice of the Arctic Ocean (北冰洋) rnelt( 融化).

Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater.

Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower.

46. According to the passage, which picture shows the right place of Venice?

47. Which is the most impossible way for people in Venice to get around in the passage?

A. On foot.        B. By boat.        C. By car.        D. By bike.

48. Why is Venice still getting lower and lower?

A. Because too many people live there.

B. Because the rising temperature has made the ice melt.

C. Because lots of bridges have been built.

D. Because the underground water is rising.

49. What seasons are dangerous for Venice because of high waters?

A. Summer and autumn.         B. Autumn and winter.

C. Summer and winter.          D. Spring and winter.

50. The passage is mainly about        .

A. the waterways of Venice      B. the history of Venice

C. the scenery of Venice         D. the problem of Venice

A well-dressed man entered a famous jewellery shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl（珍珠） for his wife's birthday. The price didn't matter, since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a number of beautiful and expensive pearls,he chose a nice black one that cost $ 5 000. He paid for the pearl in cash, shook hands with the jeweller, and left.

　　A few days later the man returned and said that his wife had liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality, as she wanted a pair of earrings（耳环） made. “Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl?” said the man. The jeweller regretfully replied. “I would say it's nearly impossible to find an exact one like that pearl.”

　　The rich man insisted that the jeweller advertise （登广告） in the newspapers, offered $ 25 000 for the matching pearl,many people answered the ad（广告）,but nobody had a pearl that was just right. Just when the jeweller had given up, a little old lady came into his shop. To his great surprise,she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse. “I don't like to part with it,”she said sadly. “I inherited（继承） it from my mother, and my mother inherited it from hers. But I really need the money.”

　　The jeweller was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the rich man's hotel to tell him the good news. The man,however,was nowhere to be found.

（　　） （1）. The man said he wanted to buy a pearl for __________.

A. his wife　　　　B. his mother-in-law　　C. his own mother　　D. no one else

（　　）（2.） He paid 5 000 for the black pearl without bargaining （讨价还价） because __________.

A. he was very rich　　　　　　　　　　 B. he was anxious to get it

C. his business had been so successful　　 D. he wanted to make the jeweller to believe him

（　　） （3）. He told the jeweller to get him another pearl that must be __________.

A. the same size as the black one　　　　 B. exactly as big and nice as the black one

C. exactly the same quality as the black one D. worth no more than 25 000

（　　） （4）. Many people answered the ad because they wanted to __________.

A. sell their own pearl at a high price　　　　B. see the perfect beautiful pearl

C. buy some beautiful pearls,too　　　　　　D. get in touch with the rich man

（　　） （5）. The jeweller couldn't find the man anywhere because __________.

A. he died of a heart attack suddenly

B. he happened to be out that day

C. he couldn't show up

D. he got 20 000 by cheating and he had run away with the money

On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged ,rich white South American lady found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin stewardess(机舱乘务员)over to complain about her seating.
“What seems to be the problem, Madam?” asked the stewardess.
“Can’t you see?” she said. “You’ve sat me next to a black man. I can’t possibly sit next to this kind of human. Find me another seat!”
“Please calm down, Madam,” the stewardess replied. “The flight is very full today, but I’ll tell you what I’ll do---I
Will go and check to see if we have any free seats in Club(商务舱)or First Class.”
The lady had an unfriendly look at the outraged(被激怒的)black man beside her.
A few minutes later the stewardess returned and said to the lady with a self –satisfied smile, “I’m sorry, Madam, this Economy(经济舱)is full, and Club is also full. However, we do have one seat in First Class.”
The lady could not help looking at the people around her. But before she had a chance to get up or make any answer, the stewardess continued , “ We seldom make this kind of upgrade(升级),however, and I had to report it to the captain(机长).When the captain heard this,he said that it was not proper to make someone sit next to such an obnoxious(令人讨厌的)person.” Having said that, the stewardess turned to the black man sitting next to the lady, and said, “So if you’d like to get your things, sir, I have a seat ready for you…”
At this time, the people around stood up and clapped their hands. The black man walked up to the front of the plane.
That was an unforgettable flight for me, for I was the black man who had never flown First Class before.
【小题1】Where did this story happen?

A．At the booking office.	B．In the Economy cabin.
C．In the Club cabin.	D．In the First Class cabin.

【小题2】The black man was finally upgraded to the First Class cabin because _____________.

A．the stewardess loved him	B．he was angry with the white lady
C．the captain knew him	D．the white lady was too impolite

【小题3】What might be the correct order of the cabins from the front to the back on this plance?

A．Club→Pilots’→Economy →First Class	B．Pilots’→Club→Economy →First Class
C．Club→Economy→ First Class→ Pilots’	D．Pilots’→ First Class →Club→ Economy

【小题4】What can be the best title of this article?

A．Flying First Class	B．On a British Airways Flight
C．Sitting Next to a Lady	D．An Unforgettable Free Flight

On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged ,rich white South American lady found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin stewardess(机舱乘务员)over to complain about her seating.
“What seems to be the problem, Madam?” asked the stewardess.
“Can’t you see?” she said. “You’ve sat me next to a black man. I can’t possibly sit next to this kind of human. Find me another seat!”
“Please calm down, Madam,” the stewardess replied. “The flight is very full today, but I’ll tell you what I’ll do---IWill go and check to see if we have any free seats in Club(商务舱)or First Class.”
The lady had an unfriendly look at the outraged(被激怒的)black man beside her.
A few minutes later the stewardess returned and said to the lady with a self –satisfied smile, “I’m sorry, Madam, this Economy(经济舱)is full, and Club is also full. However, we do have one seat in First Class.”
The lady could not help looking at the people around her. But before she had a chance to get up or make any answer, the stewardess continued , “ We seldom make this kind of upgrade(升级),however, and I had to report it to the captain(机长).When the captain heard this,he said that it was not proper to make someone sit next to such an obnoxious(令人讨厌的)person.” Having said that, the stewardess turned to the black man sitting next to the lady, and said, “So if you’d like to get your things, sir, I have a seat ready for you…”
At this time, the people around stood up and clapped their hands. The black man walked up to the front of the plane.
That was an unforgettable flight for me, for I was the black man who had never flown First Class before.
【小题1】Where did this story happen?

A．At the booking office.	B．In the Economy cabin.
C．In the Club cabin.	D．In the First Class cabin.

【小题2】The black man was finally upgraded to the First Class cabin because _____________.

A．the stewardess loved him	B．he was angry with the white lady
C．the captain knew him	D．the white lady was too impolite

【小题3】What might be the correct order of the cabins from the front to the back on this plance?

A．Club→Pilots’→Economy →First Class	B．Pilots’→Club→Economy →First Class
C．Club→Economy→ First Class→ Pilots’	D．Pilots’→ First Class →Club→ Economy

【小题4】What can be the best title of this article?

A．Flying First Class	B．On a British Airways Flight
C．Sitting Next to a Lady	D．An Unforgettable Free Flight