Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade. New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River. Over 300 years its population grew gradually from 800 people to 8 million. But not all cities develop slowly over a long period of time. Boom towns grow from nothing almost overnight. In 1896, Dawson, Canada, was unmapped wilderness(荒野). But gold was discovered there in 1897, and two years later, it was one of the largest cities in the West, with a population of 30,000.

Dawson did not have any of the natural conveniences of cities like London or Paris. People went there for gold. They travelled over snow-covered mountains and sailed hundreds of miles up icy rivers. The path to Dawson was covered with thirty feet of wet snow that could fall without warming. An avalanche(雪崩) once closed the path, killing 63 people. For many who made it to Dawson, however, the rewards were worth the difficult trip. Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold, 4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.

But no matter how rich they were, Dawson was never comfortable. Necessities like food and wood were very expensive. But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded with disappointed people with no interest in settling down, and when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come. Today, people still come and go — to see where the Canadian gold rush happened. Tourism is now the chief industry of Dawson City — its present population is 762.

48．What attracted the early settlers to New York City?

A．Its business culture.

B．Its small population.

C．Its geographical position.

D．Its favourable climate.

49．What do we know about those who first dug for gold in Dawson?

A．Two-thirds of them stayed there.

B．One out of five people got rich.

C．Almost everyone gave up.

D．Half of them died.

50．What was the main reason for many people to leave Dawson?

A．They found the city too crowded.

B．They wanted to try their luck elsewhere.

C．They were unable to stand the winter.

D．They were short of food.

51．What is the text mainly about?

A．The rise and fall of a city.

B．The gold rush in Canada.

C．Journeys into the wilderness.

D．Tourism in Dawson.

Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.

In Brazil

Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours — there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.

In Singapore

Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.

In the United Arab Emirates

In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.

In Switzerland

The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.

101．The passage is mainly about _____________.

A．communication types

B．the workplace atmosphere

C．customs and social manners

D．living conditions and standards

102．Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?

A．They put efficiency in the first place.

B．They dislike face-to-face communication.

C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible.

D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank.

103．In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?

A．When greeting seniors.

B．When meeting the host alone.

C．When attending a presentation.

D．When dining with business partners.

104．In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?

A．In Brazil.                                                  B．In Singapore.

C．In the United Arab Emirate.                        D．In Switzerland.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

China has achieved a total victory in lifting the whole nation out of poverty( 贫困 ). The poverty relief policy was put forward in November 2013. 1 ． (finish) this task, about 800,000 officials have been sent to work at local levels. In the past 8 years, China 2 ． (lift) 98.99 million poor rural 3 ． (resident) - a population larger than all but a few countries - out of poverty under the current poverty line.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Queen of the UK or England?

The Queen of the United Kingdom can be called the British Queen, 1 ． (unofficial). People who call her the Queen of England will 2 ． (regard) to be uneducated, as there has not been an English Queen since 1707. The problem comes from the confusing names of the United Kingdom (UK), Great Britain, England, Scotland, Wales, 3 ． Northern Ireland.

The UK covers all of 4 ． last four countries. Therefore, any people from the four places can be referred to as from the UK. However, they’d probably prefer being referred to as from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, because the individual country's name 5 ． (stand) for different history and culture. If they have an obviously recognizable accent ( 口音 ), it would be much better 6 ． (describe) them with one of the four names. If they don't, stay safe and say the UK or British. Then they’ll probably tell you 7 ． they're from.

But never refer to someone who is from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as from England. Depending on which of the four countries they’re from, they will show their 8 ． (reaction) in different ways:

People who are English won't care much.

Welsh will care and think you're a little bit silly.

Scots will become 9 ． (annoy) and think you are stupid.

About 50% of people in Northern Ireland will become extremely 10 ． (madness).

A different view of money

Danes ( 丹麦人 ) tend not to be concerned with “keeping up with the Joneses”. 1 ． Rather than buying the fanciest cars or the most expensive houses, Danish people spend money on leisure activities such as hobbies, outings with friends, or games.

An enjoyable jobs climate

2 ． They also work, on average, 1,522 hours per year, which is lower than most countries. Not only does this give them more leisure time, it is not detrimental( 不利的 ), as the average yearly income is $59,850. Besides, Denmark has the lowest income inequality and highest minimum wage in the world.

3 ．

The importance placed on human communication fosters a belief in one’s neighbours, and a trust that if something bad were to happen, the community would come to help them. 94% of Danes report that they have somebody they could rely on in time of need.

A clean environment

The government encourages green policies, such as bicycling in cities, in order to cut down on harmful emissions. Like bicycling, many of these measures also have other benefits. 4 ． In Denmark, levels of air pollution, water pollution, and agricultural pollution are also lower than most other countries.

5 ． .

A ． Somebody to lean on

B ． Somebody to seek advice from

C ． There are also many beautiful parks in Denmark

D ． Danes have lower unemployment rates than most countries in the world

E.Instead, they view money as a kind of means to connect with other people

F.Cities where bicycling is common have less traffic, less noise, and healthier citizens

G.Look over all these factors ， it becomes apparent that almost anybody would love living in Denmark