When the 29th Olympic Games is held in Beijing in 2008, it will be a place where all our dreams come true.

And the building that will hold those dreams is to be based on a nest-like design, planned jointly by Swiss and Chinese architects. The plan is for the main Olympic stadium: the National Stadium. Nest-like walls surrounding the stadium like a steel net proved to be a popular design. It won more than half the votes of over 6,000 visitors to an exhibition of 13 possible designs, which ended on March 31. Before the exhibition, the leading plan had been chosen as one of three top designs from 13 possible plans. The official announcement for the final winning design will be made sometime this month.

Guan Zhaoye, chairman of the group of official judges, said, “The top design is a perfect meeting of elegance(典雅) and simplicity.” The stand(看台) is a bowl-shape running circle. “People’s attention can focus on the competitive events instead of the stadium itself,” said Li Xinggang, one of the architects. “The excited crowds will become part of the building itself and they will stimulate(激发) the athletes.”

Many visitors said that the model is unusual, practical and mixes modern architecture with traditional Chinese culture. “I think it shows the idea of a nest where new life grows up. It is a really good idea,” said one visitor. But others disagreed and were unhappy about the building looking like a bird cage.

The 80,000-seat stadium, to be built in north Beijing, will host the opening and closing ceremonies(仪式) as well as track-and-field(田径) events during the 2008 Olympics. Construction work is set to start at end of this year.

1．After the Sydney Olympic Games, the 29th Olympic Games will be held in __________.

       A．Atlanta                B．Barcelona            C．Beijing                 D．Athens(雅典)

2．Which of the following is not the reason why the nest-like design is chosen as the main stadium?

    A．It is designed jointly by Swiss and Chinese architects and look like a bird cage

       B．It is a perfect meeting of elegance and simplicity.

       C．It is unusual, practical and mixes modern architecture with traditional Chinese culture.

       D．It shows the idea of a nest where new life and dreams grow up.

3．According to the passage, which of the following is not right?

       A．Some people still disagree with the design.

       B．The stadium will begin to be built in the south of Beijing at the end of this year.

       C．The opening ceremony as well as other events will be held in the stadium.

       D．The design of the stand is very practical.

New Beijing, Great Olympics

The 2008 Olympic Games has been the most cheerful and anticipated（预先的） event throughout Beijing ever since Beijing was rewarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, yet the focus should be shifted from making a promise to carrying out the promise made.

　 In my point of view, to bridge the gap between the promise and reality, Beijing still has a long way to go. To begin with, basic-structure construction should be the primary concern. Such basic-structures as communications and transportation system and facilities ought to draw our constant attention. For example, traffic jam has been an age-old headache in Beijing. The scene of long queues of vehicles worming their way inch by inch will surely cause great disorder, and impair the image of the city meanwhile. Next, to add charm to convenience, overall city planning is quite necessary. Time permitting, a redesign of city plan and adjustment of architectural style would provide a better environment for cultivating the characteristic, mixing oriental elegance(东方的雅致) with international greatness, will tower aloft(在高处) among surrounding architectures. To achieve such effect, Beijing shall seek opinions from first-rate architects and make an overall plan. Thirdly, quality of the population should be improved. To make an international metropolis, both “hardware” and “software” are important.

　 However, Rome was not built in a day. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”, deeds speak louder than words.

What does the underlined word “metropolis” in paragraph 2 mean ?

A . suburb     B. small city    C. capital city   D. town  

Which sentence is not true according to the author’s opinion in the passage?

A. Beijing has a crowded traffic since a long time ago.

B. Experts in architecture are also important to the city’s construction.

C. In order to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has preparations to make in many ways.

D. Hardware” refers to quality of people in Beijing.

How many aspects does the author mention to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing?

A. two: basic-structure construction and people’s quality

B. three: basic-structure construction, traffic problem and overall city planning.

C. two: basic-structure construction and overall city planning

D. three: basic-structure construction, overall city planning and people’s quality.

What can be inferred from the text?

A. Beijing is going to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

B. To carry out the promise of “New Beijing, Great Olympics”is a long-term work.

C. Traffic jams will cause a lot of trouble and make people feel sick..

D. An overall city plan is to make Beijing a city with eastern and western cultures mixed together.

 

BEIJING—Beijing is to spend up to us $ 20 billion to change the Chinese capital into a 21st century one for the 2008 Olympics.

The government manages to host the 2008 games. The general aim is for Beijing to have the same environmental standards as Paris, London or Washington by 2008.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent to pipe natural gas to the city’s home, taking away dirty coal burning gradually while 60,000 buses will be changed to liquefied(液化的)gas.

The money also will be used for relocating(重新部署) the polluting factories and building green belts. By 2008 around 90 percent of Beijing’s waste will be treated, compared to only 40 percent at present.

Olympic officials have already announced that around 50 large projects are being dealt with to improve traffic congestion(拥堵) and cut down pollution. They include construction of Beijing’s first light railway, a 40.5-kilometer line which is expected to be completed in 2006.

Beijing, besides, plans to build an 82.25-kilometer-long subway to add to the existing 53 kilometers. Nine major roads will be rebuilt or widened.

Beijing also plans to build a 70-meter-wide green belt along the waterways to protect water quality as well as increase the green areas.

1.The government will pipe natural gas to the city’s home in order to_________.

A．solve the problem of being short of fuel

B．reduce the pollution of our capital

C．bring down the cost of daily life

D．keep up with the development of modern society

2.From the last three paragraphs we know the fact that _________.

A．lengthening the existing 53-kilometer subway is among the 50 large projects

B．a 40.5-kilometre line will be added to Beijing’s first light railway

C．the length of the subway will be up to 135.25 kilometers in 2006

D．a 70-meter-wide green belt will supply us with enough water

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The environment of London is better than Toronto.

B．In the first paragraph “a 21st century one” refers to a modern and advanced capital.

C．Beijing is badly polluted mainly by coal burning

D．Liquefied gas is more expensive than petrol.

4.This news report mainly talks about ___________.

A．how Beijing is becoming a 21st century city

B．how many projects are being dealt with to improve traffic of Beijing

C．how Beijing is being built into a first class Olympic host city

D．the use of the 20 billion US dollars

 

BEIJING—Beijing is to spend up to us $ 20 billion to change the Chinese capital into a 21th century one for the 2008 Olympics.

    The government managed to host the 2008 games.The general aim is for Beijing to have the same environmental standards as Paris,London or Washington by 2008.

    Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent to pipe natural gas to the city’s home,taking away dirty coal buring gradually while 60,000 buses will be changed to liquefied(液化的)gas.

    The money also will be used for relocating the polluting factories and building green belts.By 2008 around 90 percent of Beijing’s waste will be treated,compared to only 40 percent at present.

   Olympic officials have already announced that around 50 large projects are being dealt with to improve traffic congestion and cut down pollution.They include construction of Beijing’s first light railway,a 40.5-kilometer line which is expected to be completed in 2005.

    Beijing,besides,plans to build an 82.25-kilometer-long subway to add to the existing 53 kilometres.Nine major roads will be rebuilt or widened.

    Beijing also plans to build a 70-meter-wide green belt aong the waterways to protect water quality as well as increase the green areas.

1.The government will pipe natural gas to the city’s home in order to_________.

A. solve the problem of being short of fuel

B. bring down the cost of daily life

C. reduce the pollution of our capital

D. keep up with the development of modern society

2.From the last threee paragraphs we know the fact that _____________.

A.lengthening the existing 53-kilometer subway is among the 50 large projects

B. a 40.5-kilometre line will be added to Beijing’s frist light railway

C.the length of the subway will be up to  135.25 kilometres in 2005

D.a 70-meter-wide green belt will supply us with enough water

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.The environment of London is better than Toronto.

B.In the first paragraph “a 21st century one” refers to a modern and advanced capital.

C.Beijing is badly polluted mainly by coal burning

D.Liquefied gas in more expensive than petrol.

4.This news report mainly talks about ___________.

A.how Beijing is becoming a 21st century city

B.how many projects arebeing dealt with to improve traffic of Beijing

C.how Beijing is being built into first class Olympic host city

D.the use of the 20 billion US dollars