（二）Things to Know about the UK
From Buckingham Palace to Oxford, the UK is loaded with wonderful icons (标志) of past eras. But it has also modernized with confidence. It's now better known for vibrant (充满活力的) cities with great nightlife and attraction. Fashions, fine dining, clubbing, shopping—the UK is among the world's best.
Most people have strong preconceptions about the British. But if you're one of these people. you'd be wise to abandon those ideas. Visit a nightclub in one of the big cities, a football match, or a good local pub and you might more readily describe the English people as humorous and hospitable. It's certainly true that no other country in the world has more bird-watchers, sports supporters, pet owners and gardeners than the UK.
Getting around England is pretty easy. Budget (廉价的) airlines like Easyjet and Rynnair fly domestically. Trains can deliver you very efficiently from one major city to another. Long distance express buses are called coaches. While coaches and buses run on the same route, coaches are more expensive (though quicker) than buses. London's famous black cabs are excellent but expensive. Minicabs are cheaper competitors. with freelance (个体的) drivers. But usually you need to give a call first. London's underground is called the Tube. It's very convenient and can get you to almost any part of the city.
The UK is not famous for its food. But you still need to know some of the traditional English foods. The most famous must be fish and chips. The fish and chips are deep fried in flour. English breakfast is something you need to try. It is fried bacon, sausages, fried eggs, black pudding, fried tomatoes, fried bread and baked beans, with toast and a pot of tea. Other things like shepherd's pie and Yorkshire pudding are also well-known as a part of English food culture.
Pubbing and clubbing are the main forms of English nightlife, especially for the young. Pubbing means going to a pub with friends, having drinks, and chatting. Clubbing is different from pubbing and includes going to a pub, or a place of music, or a bar, or any other places to gather with friends. Clubbing can be found everywhere. Usually there is some kind of dress code for clubbing, such as no jeans, no sportswear, or smart clubwear, while pubbing is much more casual.
1. Paragraph 2________.
2. Paragraph 3________.
3. Paragraph 4________.
4. Paragraph 5________.
* * *
A. Education
B. People
C. Transport
D. Drinks
E. Food
F. Nightlife
* * *
5. The UK is a country that is________.
6. The British people are________.
7. Coaches in the UK are________.
8. Fish and chips are________.
* * *
A. faster but more expensive than buses
B. both ancient and modern
C. humorous and hospitable
D. cheap and efficient
E. traditional and famous
F. clever and hardworking
* * *
［重要考点］
［主旨大意］
本文主要介绍了现代英国的状况。
第二段描述了英国人的幽默以及热情好客。第三段介绍了英国便利的交通。第四段介绍了英国的传统食品。第五段讲述了英国人丰富多彩的夜生活。
［长难句结构解析］
1. Visit a nightclub in one of the big cities, a football match, or a good local pub and you might more readily describe the English people as humorous and hospitable.
（1）这是一个由and连接的并列句。and前的句子是一个祈使句，相当于省略了主语you，and后是一个完整的句子。
（2）and后半句you might more readily describe...表示的是一种假设的情况，可看做一个虚拟句。
（3）参考译文：当你参观了某个大城市的一个夜总会，一场足球比赛，或当地的一家酒吧，你就可能更倾向于认为英国人是幽默、热情好客的。
2. It's certainly true that no other country in the world has more bird-watchers, sports supporters, pet owners and gardeners than the UK.
（1）在这个句子中，it是形式主语，真正的主语是后边的that从句。
（2）that从句中使用了一个比较级，即no... more than...。
（3）参考译文：世界上任何一个国家都不像英国一样拥有如此多的鸟类观察者、运动支持者、养宠物的人以及园艺师，这一点是毋庸置疑的。
［答案解析］
1．B。［解析］第二段没有主题句，但我们通过阅读全段，可以找到同义高频词the British，these people，the English people等，这些词指的都是英国的国民，这与选项B people意思一致，故B为正确答案。
2．C。［解析］第三段主题句是第一句：Getting around England is pretty easy. 句子意思是：游览英国是一件非常容易的事。随后便介绍了英国方便的交通工具，包括飞机、火车、长途特快公交车、的士、地铁等。选项C transport（交通）与其意思一致，故C为正确答案。
3．E。［解析］第四段主题句是第二句But you still need to know some of the traditional English foods. 句子意思是“你仍需了解一些英式传统食物”，该段在后边也介绍了各种各样的食物，其中最著名的是炸鱼和炸土豆片。选项E food（食品）与其意思一致，故E为正确答案。
4．F。［解析］第五段主题句是第一句：Pubbing and clubbing are the main forms of English nightlife, especially for the young. 句子意思是“尤其对年轻人来说，酒吧和夜总会是英国夜生活的主要形式”，因此这段的主题是关于nightlife的，故F是正确答案。
5．B。［解析］我们在题干中不能确定其关键线索词，但根据“题目顺序与段落顺序基本保持一致”这一规律，可以定位原文至第一段。文中第一段第一句From Buckingham Palace to Oxford, the UK is loaded with wonderful icons (标志) of past eras. 讲述了从白金汉宫到牛津，遍布英国的是许多过去时代的标志性建筑，这说明英国是一个古老的国家。第二句But it has also modernized with confidence. 则说明英国同时充满了自信的现代气息。这两句说明英国是一个既古老又现代的国度。故答案为B。
6．C。［解析］根据题干关键词the British people，我们可以将原文定位至第二段第三句的后半句...and you might more readily describe the English people as humorous and hospitable. 这与选项C意思一致。
7．A。［解析］根据题干关键线索词coaches，我们可以将原文定位至第三段第五句：While coaches and buses run on the same route, coaches are more expensive (though quicker) than buses. 句子意思是“尽管长途汽车与公共汽车路线一样，但长途汽车比公共汽车收费要贵很多，虽然它比较快。”这与选项A表达一致，故A为正确选项。
8．E。［解析］根据题干关键线索词fish and chips，我们可将原文定位至倒数第二段第二、三句：But you still need to know some of the traditional English foods. The most famous must be fish and chips. 其中第三句the most famous后边省略了of the traditional English foods。通过这两句我们可以知道“炸鱼和炸土豆片是传统的，也是非常有名的英国食物”，这与选项E意思一致，故E为正确答案。
