I have learnt of a plan to build three hundred houses on the land called Parsons Place by the football ground. Few people know about this new plan to increase the size of our town. For me，Parsons Place is special because it is a beautiful natural area where local people can relax - the small wood has many unusual trees and the stream is popular with fishermen and bird-watchers. Its very quiet because there are few houses or roads nearby. I think that losing this area will be terrible because we have no other similar facilities in the neighbourhood.
I am also against this plan because it will cause traffic problems. How will the people from the new houses travel to work? The motorway and the railway station are on the other side of town.
Therefore，these people will have to drive through the town centre every time they go anywhere.
The roads will always be full of traffic，there will be nowhere to park and the tourists who come to see our lovely old buildings will leave. Shops and hotels will lose business. If the town really needs more homes，the empty ground beside the railway station is a more suitable place.
No doubt the builders will make a lot of money by selling these houses. But，in my opinion，the average person will quickly be made poorer by this plan. As well as this，we will lose a very special place and our town will be much less pleasant.
I am going to the local government offices on Monday morning to protest about this plan and I hope that your readers will join me there. We must make them stop this plan before it is too late.
词汇:
facility /f sil ti/ n. 场所，设施 protest /pr utest/ v. 抗议
motorway / m ut wei / n. 高速公路
注释:
1. For me，Parsons Place is special because it is a beautiful natural area where local people can relaxthe small wood has many unusual trees and the stream is popular with fishermen and bird-watchers. 对我来说，帕森场是非常特别的，因为它是一个美丽的天然场地并且当地人可以在此放松休息。这片小树林里有许多独特的树木并且这里的小溪受到了渔夫和野鸟观察 者的欢迎。
2. The roads will always be full of traffic，there will be nowhere to park and the tourists who come to see our lovely old buildings will leave. 公路上将总是有很多车辆，却没有地方停车，并且来参观我们这儿可爱的老式建筑物的观光者将会离开这里。
3. As well as this，we will lose a very special place and our town will be much less pleasant.不但如此，我们将失去一个非常特别的地方并且我们的城镇将会失去很多快乐。
练习:
1. Why has Alan written this letter?
A) To persuade the government to build new houses.
B) To protest about a new motorway near the town.
C) To encourage more people in the town to use Parsons Place.
D) To inform other people about the builders plans.
2. Why is Parsons Place particularly important，in Alans opinion?
A) Because it is near the football ground.
B) Because lots of people live near it.
C) Because it is a place near the town where people can enjoy nature.
D) Because local people can get there easily by car from the town.
3. What will cause traffic jams?
A) A building on Parsons Place.
B) Building near the railway station.
C) Tourists in the narrow streets.
D) People going to the shops and hotels.
4. Alan says that ordinary people who live in the town will probably soon _____.
A) open new shops and hotels
B) choose to live near the station
C) be able to buy new homes
D) have less money
5. Which of these posters has Alan made?
A) SAVE OUR SPORTS GROUND
B) SAY NO TO HOUSES ON PARSON S PLACE
C) WE NEED HOMES NOT HOTELS
D) USE THE TRAIN NOT THE ROAD
答案与题解:
1. D 本题问的是:为什么Alan写这封信? A、B、C选项在文中没有提到，D选项的意思是让其他人了解建筑商的计划，因此 D是正确答案。
2. C 本题问的是:在Alan看来，为什么帕森场非常重要?第一段中提到因为它是一个美丽的天然场地并且当地人可以在此放松休息。因此 C 是正确答案。
3. A 本题问的是:什么将会引起交通堵塞?第二段提到了，如果按照建筑商的计划，那么公 路上将总是有很多车辆，却没有地方来停车。因此选择 A。
4. D 本题问的是:Alan说住在城镇的人们将来可能会，本文第三段提到每个人将会因这个计划的实施而快速地变穷。因此选择 D。
5. B 本题问的是:以下哪个是Alan制作的海报? Alan在本文中一直在说抵制建筑商在帕森 场上建造房屋的计划，因此选择 B，对帕森场上的房屋说不。