Traveling by train is usually not
easy in China. It can be hard to get a ticket. When you’re
traveling to the railway station you look at your watch, afraid you will miss
your train.
But there is good news for people
traveling between Beijing and Shanghai. Construction (建設) on the express railway
(高速鐵路) between the two cities started just before the
Spring Festival of 2008. When it is finished by 2013, taking a train will be as
easy as taking a bus.
“There will be trains every several minutes. Buying a ticket, getting
through the checkpoint (檢查站) and taking your seat, will take just 10 minutes,” said an engineer.
There may be high-speed trains
running at 350 kilometers an hour. The travel time between the two cities will
decease from 10 to about 5 hours. The trains will carry twice the present
number of passengers.
The new line will be 1,318
kilometers long and go across specially built bridges. It will run along side
the present line. There will be 21 stations in Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Anhui
and Jiangsu.
“The cost of traveling by the express railway may be around 800
yuan. That will be more expensive than an ordinary train, but cheaper than by
air.” Said Zhang Xiaoling, a Jiangsu government
official.
According to Zhang, the higher
price is caused by the large cost of the railway project. At about 200 billion
yuan, the project may be even more expensive than the Three Gorges Project (三峽工程).
1.The express railway between Beijing and
Shanghai will be finished _______.
A. at the end
of this year B.
before the Spring Festival of 2008
C. after 2013 D.
in about 5 years
2.Before taking your seat, you should _____
with your ticket.
A. buy a
ticket B.
get through the checkpoint
C. pack your
things D.
make some friends
3.The word “decrease” in the passage possibly means ______ in Chinese.
A.
延長 B.
縮短 D. 提速 D.
限速
4.Which of the following statements
is TRUE according to the passage?
A.
Traveling by train is usually difficult in China because tickets are too
expensive.
B.
The high-speed trains will have 21 stations in Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Hunan
and Jiangsu.
C.
Tickets for the high-speed trains will be cheaper than those for planes.
D.
The cost of the express railway project is as high as that of the Three Gorges
Project.
5.What can be the best title of the
passage?
A.
An enormous project. B.
Train tickets will get more expensive
C.
Specially built bridges D.
Beijing—Shanghai express railway
Did you visit the Shanghai World Expo last summer? What
impressed (給……留下印象) you? 21st Century Kids invites four kids to talk about their
experiences. They are back from the Expo. What did they bring us? Let’s see
what they have to say. 