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

Most people in Britain live in small family groups. More than a quarter of houses in Britain have only got one person in them. Some of these are old people but some are people of twenty to thir­ty who choose to live alone. 35% of houses have two people in them, and another 17% have three people. 15% have four people in them, and the other homes have five or more.
The families in Britain are small. It is unusual for parents to have more than two children. When children are about eighteen or nineteen, they leave their parents' home, and they often go to a different city. Sometimes they only visit their parents two or three times a year.
【小题1】  How many houses in Britain have 3 people living in them?

A．8% of houses.

B． 15% of houses.

C．17% of houses.

D．35% of houses.

【小题2】   At what age do children in Britain usually leave their parents' home?

A． About 18 or 19.	B． About 20 or 21.
C． About 25 or 26.	D． About 30 or 31.

【小题3】   What do you think the passage is?

A． An instruction.

B． A report.

C． A play.

D． A joke.

【小题4】   What does the passage mainly tell us?

A． Young people in Britain.	B． Old people in Britain.
C． Families in Britain.	D． The population in Britain.

【小题5】   According to the passage, which of the diagrams is right?

When  people    travel    in  another  city  or   country ,they  sometimes  stay  in  the  homes of the local people.  This is called   homestay  .   It  is    a  great  experience  because  you  can  meet  people    from   a  different  country   or  city  and  learn  something  new  about   that  place   .                                                                                       I  am  Wan  Li  from  China.  I came  to  the  UK   with  my  friends  for  a  short   visit  .    we   are  living   with  an English  couple   ,Mr.   and  Mrs.Green  ,in  the  west   of    London.    They   have    a    wonderful      four –bedroom  house   .      This   is  a new   house  .  It   has    two   bathrooms     and  a   garden    with  many    beautiful    flowers.   I   have   a   bedroom    of   my   own   .                                                                                     
There  are   some    shopping    centres    and     restaurants     near     the    house,     and   the  house   is  close   to   an     underground  station. It  takes   about  thirty  minutes  to  get  to   the  centre  of  London. 
I  think   a  homestay   may  be   a  good   choice  for  you  if  it  is  your  first  time  to  visit  abroad .  The local  people  are  friendly  and  willing  to  help. If  you  happen  to  celebrate   the  holidays  with  them,  you  will  get  to  know  more  about    western  culture  and  customs.
【小题1】The  underlined  word   homestay   in  the  passage  means_________.

A．Stay at home.

B．Stay in the homes of one’s friends

C．Stay in the homes of one’s relatives

D．Stay in the homes of the local people.

【小题2】Wan Li and his  friends  live with _______ in London.

A．Mr. and Mrs. Bush	B． Mr. and Mrs. Green
C． Mr. and Mrs.	D．Mr. and Mrs. Brown

【小题3】There is ____________near  the  house.

A．a bus station	B．an underground station
C．a train station	D．an airport

【小题4】How long does it take Wan Li  to get  to the centre of London from the  west of London?

A．Thirty minutes	B．Thirteen minutes
C．Twenty minutes	D． Forty minutes

【小题5】When travelers to the Great Britain happen to celebrate the holidays with the local people they will learn more about___________.

A．western culture and customs

B．world culture and customs

C．eastern culture and customs

D．southern culture and customs

Most people in Britain live in small family groups. More than a quarter of houses in Britain have only got one person in them. Some of these are old people but some are people of twenty to thir­ty who choose to live alone. 35% of houses have two people in them, and another 17% have three people. 15% have four people in them, and the other homes have five or more.
The families in Britain are small. It is unusual for parents to have more than two children. When children are about eighteen or nineteen, they leave their parents’ home, and they often go to a different city. Sometimes they only visit their parents two or three times a year.
【小题1】  How many houses in Britain have 3 people living in them?

A．8% of houses.

B． 15% of houses.

C．17% of houses.

D．35% of houses.

【小题2】   At what age do children in Britain usually leave their parents’ home?

A． About 18 or 19.	B． About 20 or 21.
C． About 25 or 26.	D． About 30 or 31.

【小题3】   What do you think the passage is?

A． An instruction.

B． A report.

C． A play.

D． A joke.

【小题4】   What does the passage mainly tell us?

A． Young people in Britain.	B． Old people in Britain.
C． Families in Britain.	D． The population in Britain.

【小题5】   According to the passage, which of the diagrams is right?