Hong Kong, major commercial center for Asia, and with a population which has grown at an alarming rate to over 5 million, is a city highly dependent on mass transit of all sorts, both local and long distance. The average Hong Kong worker or businessman, going about his daily activities, simply must use public transportation at one time or another.
Because Hong Kong is in two parts, Kowloon, on the mainland side, and Hong Kong, the island, with Hong Kongs harbor in between, Hong Kongs mass transit systems, in addition to going over land must also cross water.
Going from home to work, or going shopping from one side of the harbor to the other, the Hong Kong resident has three choices. One way is to take a bus, which will cross the harbor through an underwater traffic tunnel moving slowly through bumper-to-bumper traffic. Another way is by ferryboat, a pleasant ride which crosses the harbor in from seven to fifteen minutes.
But by far the fastest way of crossing the harbor is the newly built underground electric railway, the Hong Kong Metro. If one boards the train in the Central District, the commercial area of Hong Kong on the island side, he can speed across the harbor in an astonishing three minutes. On the other side of the harbor the railway continues, snaking back and forth through the outlying districts of Kowloon, allowing one to get off a short distance from his destination.
The story of the Metro is an encouraging one for supporters of mass transit. Although building the system was certainly a challenging task, the Japanese firm hired to construct it did so in record time. Construction got underway in 1979 and it was completed in 1980.
For the average commuter the system has only one disadvantages: it is more expensive than by bus or ferry. One can ride the bus across the harbor for half as much, or he can ride the ferry across for less than one-fifth as much.
1. Hong Kong ___.
A. can do without mass transit.
B. finds public transportation too expensive.
C. needs public transportation.
D. has an insufficient mass transit system.
2. Hong Kong Public transportation extends ___.
A. over hills and valleys.
B. across land and water.
C. through mountains.
D. throughout the Kowloon area.
3. The traffic in the underwater traffic tunnel is ___.
A. heavy
B. light
C. fast
D. dangerous
4. Crossing the harbor by train is ___.
A. by far the most economical method.
B. the most pleasant method.
C. the least pleasant method.
D. the fastest method.
5. The business area on the island side of Hong Kong is referred to be as ___.
A. Kowloon
B. the Central District
C. the Hong Kong Metro
D. the Hong Kongs harbor.
参考答案:1-5 CBADB
Clean up your act 改邪归正
Get someone's goat 火冒三丈
Going forward 从今往后
Bust a gut 拼了命地工作
Reunion? Count me out! 重聚? 别算上我!
Are you a team player? 你是一名具有团队精神的人吗?
Is a game just a game? 游戏只是游戏吗?
It's on the cards 这件事十有八九会发生
White / blue-collar worker 白领,蓝领
In the blink of an eye 一眨眼之间
Wardrobe dilemma 面对衣橱的困惑
Pull something out of the hat 突施妙计
One good turn deserves another 以德报德,礼尚往来
Off the hook 脱身
Close, but no cigar 几近成功
The daily commute 每天上下班
You're pulling my leg! 你在愚弄我!
Hot potato 棘手的问题“烫手山芋”
Would you let your baby sleep in a box? 你愿意让自己的宝宝在盒子里睡觉吗?
A recipe for disaster 后患无穷
The university of life 生活经历
Old-school 老一套,老派
To fall at the first hurdle 跌倒在第一关
Pain in the neck 令人讨厌的事情或人
To make a mountain out of a molehill 小题大做
Barefaced 厚颜无耻的
Axe to grind 别有用心
Until I'm blue in the face 任凭你磨破嘴皮
Bored at work? Sue the boss! 工作无聊怪老板?
Knee-jerk reaction 本能反映
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