Almost everyone has read about the Taj Mahal in Idaia. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is said that the Taj Mahal, like the Great Wall in China, is one of the seven wonders in the world. Over three hundred years ago, Shah Jehan built Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife.

Shah Jehan wanted his wife’s tomb to be perfect. He did not care about time or money. He brought together workmen from all Asia. Altogether, over 20 000 men worked on the building, and it took them over seventeen years to finish it.

The building rests on a platform of red sandstone. Four thin white towers rise from the corners of the terrace（平台）, a large dome（圆屋顶）rises from the center of the buildings. Around this large dome there are four smaller domes.

The building is made of fine white marbles. It has eight sides. There is an open corridor just inside the walls. From the corridor, the visitor looks through marble screen to a center room. The bodies of Shah Jehan and his wife lie in a tomb below this room.

A beautiful garden surrounds the Taj Mahal. The green trees make the marble look even whiter. In front of the main entrance to the building there is a long narrow pool. If you look in this pool, you can see all the beautiful look of the Taj Mahal in the reflection from the water.

Some people think the Taj Mahal is most beautiful at sunset. Then the marble picks up the color of sunset, and the building and its reflection in the pool shines like jewels. Others like it best at noon when the bright sun makes it clear and clean.

Still others think it should be seen by moonlight. On nights when the moon is full, hundreds of people visit the Taj Mahal and spend the night beside the pool. When morning comes and the Taj Mahal turns from silver to gold in the early sunrise, they go away to return, perhaps, when the moon is full again.

（　　 ）1. Shah Jehan built the Taj Mahal 　　　　 .

A. for people to visit　　 　 B. for pleasure　　

C. to show off his treasure D. to place the bodies of his wife and himself

（　　 ）. 2The Tai Mahal in India is almost as 　　　 as the Great Wall in China.

A. well-known　 B. long　　　　　 C. large　　　　 D. perfect

（　　 ）3. How many domes are there on the building?

A. One.　　　　　　　　 B. Four.　　　　 C. Five.　　　　 D. Eight.

（　　 ）4. The pool and the garden make the building 　　　 .

A. colorful　 B. even more beautiful　 C. long and narrow　　　 D. clear and clean

（　　 ）5. The underlined word “reflection” probably means 　　　 .

A. surface　　　 B. bottom　　　　 C. beauty　　　　　 D. image

KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut… These fast food restaurants constantly remind us of the American fondness with hamburgers, chips and pizza. But America’s reputation as the home of fast food is under threat from the British, according to research carried out by the BBC in 13 nations among 9,000 people.

Though they are afraid of putting on weight, the study found the British are more interested in junk food than any other nation. Almost half of British respondents (参与调查者) said they enjoyed fast food too much to give it up. About 44 percent in the US claimed they would be unable to stop eating burgers, pizzas and chicken wings, making the country second in the world’s junk food league. The third place went to the United Arab Emirates, where 35 percent are junk-food lovers.

The research also found that attitudes to food and weight vary wildly around the world. Those in the UK and US believed lack of self-discipline (自律) was the main factor behind growing waistlines. They can’t deny themselves hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but “make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet coke”, the study suggested.

The French, on the other hand, seem to keep a watchful eye on their weight. They get on the scales every day. Only 19 percent of the French surveyed admitted a fondness for fast food. It is said that the French valued the combination of good food and company. Sharing classic food and time with loved ones is the key to the French sensibility. “French people take care of their image as a matter of course. Being thin is part of our culture and a point of pride. We are known for it,” said Thierry Pailleux.

57. Which of the following shows the correct percentage of people in the research fond of junk food? 

58. The research suggests that _______________.

A. Americans love fast food and are proud of the fast food they eat

B. those British who love fast food do not care about their body weight

C. the British would like to think that other food they eat make up for eating occasional fast food

D. most people love fast food as they don’t think such food will lead to their growing waistlines

59. According to Thierry Pailleux, the French are less obsessed with fast food than the British and Americans because ____________.

A. they value their image               B. they have better foods than other countries

C. they value self-discipline             D. they fear criticism for an unhealthy diet

60. The article is mainly about a study of ____________.

A. the relationship between fast food and body weight

B. why fast food is popular in many foreign countries

C. different countries’ attitudes towards body weight  

D. how popular fast food is in different countries

It is said that the weather will ______ hot for another three or four days.

A. look                B. last                    C. stay                 D. get

It is said that the early European playing-cards ______ for entertainment and education.