III. 阅读理解

Every city in the world has taxis to take tourists to interesting places. London is the only city in the world where taking a taxi is an interesting experience for tourists. This is partly because of the special black cabs（出租车）, which are found in no other country. But it is also because of the drivers themselves. While British people are famous for being polite and reserved, London taxi drivers are well known of their willingness to talk.

Some customers say that once the door shuts and the cab moves off they are captive audience. It is impossible to get the taxi drivers to stop talking.

“They’re self-confident and free thinking,” says Malcolm Linskey, the author of a history of taxi drivers in London. “They answer to nobody but themselves and that comes across in their conversation.”

They are also expensive. London has the most expensive taxis of any city in the world except Tokyo. That’s why Ken Living-stone, the mayor of London, is planning to make taxi drivers discuss their fares with customers before they take a ride.

Drivers agree that their fares are expensive. That’s because their black taxis cost more than other cars, they say. And the customer is also paying for a more driving expertise than anywhere else in the world.

Before someone can qualify as a London taxi driver, that person has to pass a test known as “The Knowledge”. This involves memorizing the name and location of every street within six miles of a point in the exact center of London. The trainee must also learn the exact location of every important building within these streets. Finally he or she must be able to use this knowledge to work out the shortest distance between any two destinations within this area.

It can take up the three years to pass “The knowledge”. Every day it is possible to see trainee taxi drivers on the streets of London, taking careful notes of popular destinations before finding the route to their next stop. Cab driving is a job often handed down in families. Many taxi drivers take their children out in their spare time to memorize routes they will need to know when it is their turn to do “The Knowledge”.

The effect of this is to make London taxi drivers experts at their job. They also have bigger brains. Recent research by scientists at the Institute of Neurology in London found that the hippocampus—the part of the brain that remembers things—was larger and more developed in cab drivers. They have to fit the whole of London into their heads, so their brains grow bigger.

1．Taking a taxi in London is an interesting experience for tourists because of the following statements except that _______.

   A．the special black cabs can’t be found in other countries

B．the drivers are polite and reserved

C．the drivers are talkative

D．the drivers are self-confident and free thinking

2．Taking a taxi in London is very expensive because _________.

   A．the drivers answer to nobody but themselves

B．the drivers can discuss their fares with customers before the ride

C．the drivers are the most qualified

D．the black cabs are the safest

3．It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

   A．London has the most expensive taxis in the world

B．“The Knowledge”is a test that can be done easily

C．trainee taxi drivers are not often seen on the streets

D．many taxi drivers tend to make their children taxi drivers

4．London cab drivers have bigger brains because _______

   A．they are experts at their job

B．they have many streets and routes in their minds

C．their hippocampus is larger and more developed

D．their heads are bigger 

House buyers have three main choices: building from the ground up, moving into an old house or buying a new one. All the three are very different and should be considered carefully. Your budget will probably have the biggest effect on your choice. Comparing the three will help you make a good decision.

New houses are untouched and fresh, which means they can suit your personality and you know exactly where all of the materials come from. New houses won’t hold many unpleasant surprises, such as weak foundations, or other damaged areas. Most of these modern houses are also far more eco-friendly, with future decoration being just as easy to make and do as you like. Buying new houses is also a great way to save money, and you may find its benefit with the price going up in the future.

Some buildings, such as those that are rare or in certain areas, are of value over the years. Sometimes it is the history that draws more buyers into older houses. A famous person may have lived there, or an important event may have taken place in the house. This may not add any value to the house, but it can add to the attraction. There may be more repairs which will need to be done in the old houses,so before you think you’ve found a great bargain, be sure to get a careful inspection.

There are those who prefer building from the ground up. Building your own house can be a very rewarding, tiring, and expensive experience. While people have many expectations of planning and building their own houses, one thing is sure: it will take a while. There are always difficulties during construction, so you always find the construction time will be longer than your plan, not to mention the budget. Time can add up as well as materials and costs. Building is a good choice for those who are able and qualified.

1.In Paragraph 2, the writer mainly tells readers _____.

A．How to choose a good new house.

B．The benefits of buying a new house

C．Things to consider when they buy a house.

D．How to save money when they buy a new house.

2.What does the writer suggest people do when they are buying an old house?

A．Check whether the price is low

B．Check whether it is a rare house

C．Check carefully whether lots of repairs are needed

D．Check whether a famous person has lived in it

3.The writer seems to believe that building a house of one’s own is ____.

A．easy                                 B．costly

C．interesting                            D．impossible

4.What is the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To encourage readers to build a house of their own

B．To explain why it is hard to decide what house to buy

C．To tell readers how to find a great bargain when they are buying a house

D．To help readers make a better decision when they are buying a house