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Directions： There is one passage in this reading followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice .
The maritime Silk Road was a conduit for trade and cultural exchange between China’s south-eastern coastal areas and foreign countries.There were two major routes: the East China Sea Silk Route and the South China Sea Silk Route.Through the maritime Silk Road, silks, china, tea, brass and iron were the four main categories exported to foreign countries; while spices, flowers and plants, and rare treasures for the court were brought to China.Therefore, the maritime Silk Road was also known as “the maritime China road” or “the maritime spices road”.
The South China Sea Silk Route was an important conduit for China’s exchanges with the outside world.The South China Sea Silk Route got its name for being centered around the South China Sea, and its starting points at that time were mainly in Guangzhou, Quanzhou and Ningbo.
Like the East China Sea Silk Route, the South China Sea Silk Route was first used in the Qin and Han dynasties, increased its popularity from the Three Kingdoms Period 1 to the Sui Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties,and began to wane in the Ming and Qing dynasties.Before the Sui Dynasty, the maritime Silk Road was the most famous transportation route since the overland Silk Road run, and then the maritime Silk Road became a secondary alternative to it.During the period of the Sui and Tang dynasties, the overland Silk Road was interrupted by wars in the western areas, giving place to the maritime Silk Road.In the late Tang and Song dynasties, technological advances in shipbuilding and navigation led to the opening of new sea lanes to Southeast Asia, Malacca, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the continent of Africa, which made the maritime Silk Road rise again.
Guangzhou was a great harbor on the maritime Silk Road from the 330s which became the largest one and the oriental port known to the rest of the world in the Tang and Song dynasties.During that period, the voyage route from Guangzhou to the Persian Gulf 2 through the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, was the longest one in the world.Although it was later substituted by Quanzhou in the Yuan Dynasty, it was still the second largest trade port in China.Compared with other seaports, Guangzhou was thought to be an enduringly prosperous one over the 2,000 years of the maritime Silk Road.Even in periods of the early Ming and early Qing dynasties, Guangzhou was the only harbor open to foreign countries, and there were three voyage routes starting from it.The American vessel Empress of China first sailed to Guangzhou in 1784, opening the transportation route between America and Guangzhou.
The sites of the maritime Silk Road are applying for World Cultural Heritage status, which is supported by the Guangdong government.
1.What were the exports transported along the Maritime Silk Road?
A）Iron， currency， compass and gunpowder.
B）Spices， flowers and plants， and rare treasures for the court.
C）Silks， china， tea， brass and iron.
D）Paper making， gunpowder， printing techniques and the compass.
2.What does the underlined word “conduit” in Para.1 probably mean according to the passage?
A）A method or system that people use to get information， to communicate， or to send things somewhere.
B）A deep passage of water in a river or near the coast that can be used as a route for ships.
C）An organization that is used to pass things or information to other people or places.
D）A pipe， channel or tube which liquid， gas or electrical wire can pass through.
3.Why did the maritime Silk Road replace the overland Silk Road during the Sui and Tang dynasties?
A）Because of the natural disaster in the country.
B）Because of technological advances in shipbuilding and navigation.
C）Because of the development of economy in the Sui and Tang dynasties.
D）Because of the war in the western regions.
4.Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage?
A）Guangzhou became the largest port in the world and the Eastern port during the Tang and Song dynasties.
B）Guangzhou was the largest trading port in China during the Yuan Dynasty.
C）Guangzhou has been an important port on the Maritime Silk Road from the 330s.
D）Guangzhou has been regarded as an enduring and prosperous seaport of the Maritime Silk Road for more than 2，000 years.
5.What can we infer from the passage?
A）Guangzhou is one of the birthplaces of the Maritime Silk Road.
B）The South China Sea Silk Route is more important than the East China Sea Silk Route.
C）An American ship sailed to Guangzhou for the first time and opened the first transportation route between China and the foreign countries.
D）The sites of the Maritime Silk Road are in Guangzhou.
1.heritage: /'herɪtɪdʒ/ n .the history, traditions and qualities that a country or society has had for many years and that are considered an important part of its character 遗产（指一个国家或社会长期以来形成的历史、传统和特色）
2.maritime: /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/ adj .connected with the sea or ships 海的；海事的；海运的
3.oriental: /ˌɔːriˈent(ə)l / adj .connected with or typical of the eastern part of the world, especially China and Japan, and the people who live there 东方（尤指中国和日本）的；东方人的
4.prosperous: /ˈprɒsp(ə)rəs / adj .rich and successful 繁荣的；成功的；兴旺的
1.Three Kingdoms Period 三国时期（公元 220 年— 280 年）
As the name suggests, the Three Kingdoms Period (220 A.D.-280 A.D.) was composed of three kingdoms—the Kingdoms of Shu, Wei and Wu.As a single era in Chinese history, the Three Kingdoms Period started when the Kingdom of Wei took the power from the Han Dynasty and ended in 280 A.D.when the Kingdom of Wu was defeated by rulers of the Jin—a new dynasty.This period is regarded as a significant historical period filled with wars between the three Kingdoms,leading to the development of advanced military strategies, some of which are still used in modern warfare.
2.Persian Gulf 波斯湾
Persian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran.The sea has an area of about 93,000 square miles (241,000 square km).Its length is some 615 miles (990 km),and its width varies from a maximum of about 210 miles (340 km) to a minimum of 35 miles (55 km) in the Strait of Hormuz.It is bordered on the north, northeast,and east by Iran; on the southeast and south by part of Oman and by the United Arab Emirates; on the southwest and west by Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia; and on the northwest by Kuwait and Iraq.
Directions： In this reading, there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Transport was a priority when the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater B a y Area 1 was (1)______in 2019,with the word appearing 29 times in its 60 pages.China expects the Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to unleash more potential by promoting and improving infrastructure connectivity between the cities.According to the Plan,it will become a world-class bay area with innovation as its main support before 2035.The world-class standard (2)______at transportation is to achieve a one hour living circle 2 in the Bay Area.
According to the timetable, half the projects, (3)______a distance of 337 km, were started in 2022.The rest will be developed before 2035, when the Bay Area is expected to have a railway network of 5,700 km covering all its cities and counties.It now has more than 1,200 km of high-speed railway line, with the(4)______between Guangzhou, Guangdong’s provincial capital, and Hong Kong shortened to one hour in 2018 after the Guangzhou-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway opened.Given that some cities are on (5)______sides of the Pearl River 3 , which empties into the South China Sea, bridges are a vital factor in the successful completion of the one-hour living circle.
Before the Plan was introduced, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge mega project was completed and put into use in 2018.(6)______of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel and four artificial islands, the bridge reduced the travel time between Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai to just 30 minutes.A similar approach is planned to overcome (7)______constraints hindering travel between Zhongshan, on the west bank of the river, and Shenzhen, a vibrant special economic zone on the opposite bank, which (8)______necessitate a detour to the north.The travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan will be reduced to 20 minutes after the Shenzhong Link is completed in 2024.
The building of a world-class airport (9)______is also part of the Plan.Guangzhou’s Baiyun International Airport was the world’s busiest airport last year,welcoming over 42.7 million passengers.That saw it (10)______Atlanta Airport in the US to become the world’s No.1 airport in terms of passenger traffic.
1.constraint: /kənˈstreɪnt / n .a thing that limits or restricts sth., or your freedom to do sth. 限制；限定；约束
2.infrastructure: /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃə(r) / n .the basic systems and services that are necessary for a country or an organization to run smoothly, for example, buildings,transport and water and power supplies （国家或机构的）基础设施；基础建设
3.necessitate: /nəˈsesɪteɪt / v .to make sth.necessary 使成为必要
4.vibrant: /ˈvaɪbrənt / adj .full of life and energy; very bright and strong 充满生机的；生气勃勃的
1.Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) 粤港澳大湾区
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) comprises the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and the nine municipalities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou,Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province.The total area is around 56,000 km 2 .Based on the latest figures provided by Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (SARG) and the Macao SARG, the total population in the Greater Bay Area is over 86 million and the GDP is over RMB13 trillion in 2022.
2.one-hour living circle 一小时生活圈
As a rising land of opportunities, the Greater Bay Area promises innovation driven development, economic reform and, most importantly, an ideal network for living, working and traveling.Joining the many cities in the Greater Bay Area are cross-boundary infrastructures that contribute to a “one-hour living circle”,where every destination in the ecosystem is accessible within an hour of commute.
3.Pearl River 珠江
The Pearl River has a length of more than 2,000 kilometers (about 1,243 miles) and is the third longest river in China.It is composed of four separate river systems: the Xijiang River, the Liuxi River, the Beijiang River, and the Dongjiang River.These four rivers join up in Guangzhou, flow for about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles), and then pour into the South China Sea.The section flowing through Guangzhou City is the “Pearl River” that most people are familiar with.In ancient times, it was called “The Pearl Sea” for its 2,000-meter-wide (about 2,187 yards) channel.Later, the channel gradually shrunk, and now it is only 180 meters wide (about 197 yards).Its name is said to derive from a huge boulder in the river bed.This rock, with the name of “Sea Pearl”, is so round and smooth that it looks like a large, shining pearl.
Directions： In this reading, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs.Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.
A）The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge （HKZMB） is a very spectacular mega project.I can’t help but marvel at the ingenuity and incredible fortitude of Chinese tech experts and the engineering construction teams who have created the world miracle.
B）The 29.6 km-long HKZMB was inaugurated in October 2018.Measuring 55 km-long， including connecting roads， it is the world’s longest sea bridge.It connects the west side of Hong Kong to Macau and the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province.The bridge significantly reduces the travel time between Hong Kong， Macau and Zhuhai and is expected to be economically beneficial to the three regions.
C）The preliminary design of the main bridge began in March 2009.Construction started in December 2009 and was completed in February 2018.The total cost of the project was RMB120 bn （$17.3 bn）， while $87 m in funding was sanctioned for preliminary design and site investigation and $47 m for the preconstruction works initially.Hong Kong Legislative Council approved an additional HK$8.8 bn （$1.1 bn） for the project in April 2012.
D） The HKZMB project includes the construction of HKZMB， Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities （HKBCF）， and a Hong Kong Link Road（HKLR）.It also includes related infrastructure development such as environmental protection， landscaping and drainage works， street lighting，traffic control， and surveillance systems.The HKZMB’s main bridge extends for 29.6 km， crossing from east to west of the Pearl River.Forming a bridgecum-tunnel structure， the bridge comprises a double three-track carriageway.It lands on two artificial islands created on the east and west of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 1 .
E）For providing cargo processing and passengers clearance facilities at the Hong Kong boundary， approximately 130 ha of land was procured at the north-eastern coast of the airport island.The HKBCF include kiosks， goods inspection platforms and X-ray buildings that will assist in processing cargo.Buildings for passenger clearance were constructed， while kiosks were installed for screening private cars and coaches.The boundary-crossing facilities also include front line offices for government departments， such as immigration and excise.A provision has been made for road networks， switching public transports， and a drop and pick-up area of transport.
F）The HKBCF is connected with the main bridge through the 12 km-long Hong Kong link road （HKLR）.The HKLR is a dual three-track carriageway that connects the west boundary of the HK Administrative Region to the HKBCF，through the North Lantau 2 and the airport channel.It is aligned in the form of a 9.3 km-long sea viaduct， comprising a number of arches supported by piers.The link road is designed to support a vehicle speed of 100 km/h.Construction commenced in 2011 and was completed at the end of 2017.
G）The bridge consists of a series of tunnels， including a 6.7 km-long underwater tunnel that was constructed to link the two artificial islands created for the landing of the main bridge.The HKLR also has a 1.1 km-long tunnel section that passes through the mountains and the airport before connecting to a 1.6 km grade road along the eastern coast of the airport island.
H）The bridge construction was financed jointly by the government and loans.The governments of the Chinese mainland， Hong Kong and Macau together contributed RMB15.73 bn （$2.3 bn）.The contribution of the Chinese Central Government was RMB7 bn （$1.02 bn）， while Hong Kong and Macau respectively provided RMB6.75 bn （$987 m） and RMB1.98 bn （$289 m）.The remaining costs were funded through a loan from the Bank of China.The Bank of China led a financial consortium formed along with the banks of Hong Kong and Macau.The Bank of China provided an RMB22 bn （$3.21 bn） loan to construct the main body of HKZMB.The construction cost of the HKZMB’s main bridge was increased by RMB9.95 bn （$1.55 bn） to RMB48.068 bn（$7.52 bn） due to the rising costs of labour and materials， as well as fad design and construction trends.The incremental cost was financed jointly by the governments of the Chinese mainland， Hong Kong and Macau and through bank loans.
I）The completion of the bridge is of great significance to the construction and economic development of the Greater Bay Area， as demonstrated in the following three aspects.
J）The bridge has greatly enhanced the connectivity between Hong Kong， Zhuhai and Macao， underpinning the development of the Greater Bay Area.This is not just about shortening the travel time， but about the “convenience” and “fast access” made possible by the bridge.Since the opening of the bridge， more than 13 million travelers from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and the Chinese mainland have made visits to and from at least one of the three places， thus boosting local tourism and the catering industry.It fully demonstrates that the bridge has provided “convenient， smooth， safe and efficient” services for local economic development.
K） Besides， the launch of the bridge enables more efficient allocation and utilization of Hong Kong’s tech talents and resources， increasing the possibilities of greater developmental synergy among Hong Kong， Macao and the Chinese mainland.As a result， talents from Hong Kong and Macao can play a more constructive role and realize their personal potential； and the talents，capital， goods and management experience of the three places can be fully exchanged to effectively promote the development of economic sectors and companies in the Chinese mainland.
L）Moreover， the bridge can promote and lead the balanced development of the Greater Bay Area， which is conducive to building the “community with shared future in the Greater Bay Area”.This is the historical mission of the bridge and is essential to the future well-being of the people in the Greater Bay Area.In the future， an increasing number of domestic companies will venture abroad，thereby improving their management practices and market value and providing necessary contribution to and support for the improvement of people’s standard of living in the three places.
M）The completion of the bridge will enable the organic integration of Hong Kong’s financial services， the manufacturing industry in the Pearl River Delta 3 and the cultural tourism in Macao to create a unique “supply chain” that provides opportunities for local employment.The fact that it takes just one hour to travel between any two of the three places contributes to save trillions of yuan by cutting the time wasted on road each year， therefore creating multiple times more business returns.This economic growth scenario is not only a win for the three cities， but for all stakeholders.The close ties among Hong Kong， Zhuhai and Macao can drive the interactive development of the Pearl River Delta and Qianhai Development Zone in Shenzhen.It will bear the traits of a free trade zone 4 and offer infinite developmental possibilities for the Greater Bay Area.
N）The HKZMB has adopted a wide variety of the latest technology.It has become a pride of China and a perfect example that not only reflects the speed of China’s development， but the quality of China’s growth.
1.Talents from Hong Kong and Macao can play a more active role and tap their individual potential.
2.Preparations have been made for road networks, transfers to public transport and pick-up and drop-off areas for transport.
3.The construction of the bridge was financed by a combination of governments and loans.
4.This economic growth prospect is not only a victory for the three cities, but also a victory for all correlative profit operators.
5.The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge took 9 years to build.
6.Connectivity between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao has been greatly enhanced,providing support for the development of the Greater Bay Area.
7.This is not only the historic mission of the bridge, but also an important link for the future well-being of the people of the Greater Bay Area.
8.The bridge has greatly shortened the travel time between Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai, and may bring economic benefits to all three regions.
9.The bridge is a bridge-tunnel structure, composed of a double-line and three track lane.
10.It is arranged in the form of a 9.3 km-long sea viaduct and consists of a number of arches supported by piers.
1.inaugurate: /ɪˈnɔːɡjʊreɪt/ v .to officially open a building or start an organization with a special ceremony 为……举行落成仪式
2.ingenuity: /ˌɪndʒəˈnjuːəti/ n .the ability to invent things or solve problems in clever new ways 聪明才智；独创力；心灵手巧
3.surveillance: /sə(r)ˈveɪləns/ n .the act of carefully watching a person suspected of a crime or a place where a crime may be committed （对犯罪嫌疑人或可能发生犯罪的地方的）监视
4.synergy: /ˈsɪnə(r)dʒi/ n .the extra energy, power, success, etc.that is achieved by two or more people or companies working together, instead of on their own 协同作用；协同增效作用
1.Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 香港特别行政区
On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law came into effect.The Basic Law is the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR).It enshrines within a legal document the important concepts of “one country, two systems”,“Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy.According to the Basic Law, the HKSAR enjoys executive,legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication,and its political system and way of life remain unchanged for 50 years.
2.Lantau 大屿山
It is the largest of the islands of Hong Kong.It is about twice the size of Hong Kong Island, but it has about 1/10 of the population.The area near the airport is a rapidly expanding small city that is encroaching on the natural areas,farms, and countryside.Transportation between the populated northern side of Lantau and the rest of Hong Kong and Macau is convenient, but a ban on private vehicles and circuitous roads makes travel to the rural southern and western sides and the parklands in the east more difficult.But as it is, most of it is still a quiet and more natural setting and is a wonderful place for bicycle riders, pedestrians and hikers.
3.Pearl River Delta 珠江三角洲
The Pearl River Delta, also known as the Zhujiang River Delta or the PRD,is a large river delta located in Guangdong Province, southern China.It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and is home to numerous manufacturing industries.The region includes the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan,Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing.The Pearl River Delta has become a significant global manufacturing center, producing electronics, textiles,toys, and much more.It is also a significant transportation hub, with several international airports and ports serving the area.
4.free trade zone 自由贸易区
A free trade area is a type of trade bloc, a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods and services traded between them.