Passage 9

A flag is more than a piece of cloth. It stands for a nation’s people – their land, history, and ideals. Iceland’s flag, for instance, stands for features of the land. Red is for the fire of Iceland’s volcanoes. (火山) White is for ice. Blue is for the mountains. On India’s flag, the blue wheel stands for peace and progress. The white stripe (条纹) behind it is for truth. The black stripe on the flag of Malawi stands for the Negro people of that African land. The red stripe represents (代表) the blood they shed to free themselves from foreign rule.

  When the people of any nation see their flag flying, they feel proud. They love and honor the flag as the symbol (象征) of their country.

1. The flag of Iceland is

A. red and white                  B. blue and green

C. black, white, and red            D. red, white, and blue

2. The white stripe on India’s flag stands for

A. ice and mountains              B. peace and progress

C. waterfalls                     D. truth

3. India’s flag stands mostly for the

A. feature of the land              B. riches of the soil

C. ideals of the people             D. history of the country

4. The red on Malawi’s flag reminds the people of

A. the many volcanoes in their land   B. the beauty of their countryside

C. their fight for freedom           D. their need to make  progress

5. The most important thing about a flag is

A. what it stands for               B. when it is used

C. what it is made of              D. how big it is

Passage 10
　　London taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands. No matter how small or indistinct the street is, the driver will be able to get you there without any trouble. The reason London taxi drivers are so efficient is that they all have gone through a very tough training period to get special taxi driving license. During this period, which can take two to four years, the would-be taxi driver has to learn the most direct route to every single road and to every important building in London. To achieve this, most learners go around the city on small motorbikes practicing how to move to and from different points of the city. Learner taxi drivers are tested several times during the training period by government officers. The exams are terrible experience. The officers ask you “How do you get from Birmingham palace to the Tower of London?” and you have to take them there in the direct line. When you get to the tower, they won't say “well done”. They will quickly move on to the next question. After five or six questions, they will just say “See you in two months' time.”  and then you know the exam is over. Learner drivers are not allowed to work and earn money as drivers. Therefore, many of them keep their previous jobs until they have obtained the license. The training can cost quite a lot, because learners have to pay for their own expenses on the tests and the medical exam.

6. Why are London taxi drivers very efficient?

A. Because they have a driving license.
B. Because they have received special training.
C. Because the traffic conditions in London are good.
D. Because the traffic system of the city is not very complex.

7. How long does the training period last?

A. Two to four months.　　　　　　　　　　

B. About three weeks.

C. At least half a year.
D. Two years or more.

8. Why does the author think the driving test is a terrible experience?

A. Government officers are hard to please.
B. The learner has to go through several tough tests.
C. The learner usually fails several times before he passes it.
D. The driving test usually lasts two months.

9. Why do learner drivers have to keep their present jobs?

A. They don't want their present bosses to know what they're doing.
B. They want to earn money from both jobs.
C. They cannot earn money as taxi drivers yet.
D. They look forward to further promotion.

10. What can you know from the passage?

A. The training is financed by the government.

B. Government officers can get money from the training.

C. The learner has to pay for the training.

D. The training is free.