23

Venice is such a strange city. It is built on an Italian lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has canals instead of roads, which means there are no cars or buses, no trams or trains or bicycles running past us. Best of all, you could walk or jump or play hide-and-seek on its cobbled streets or its countless bridges whenever you choose to.

Daily life in Venice skims over its waterways, especially the sweeping double curve of the Grand Canal and the 180 smaller water passages that run through the 118 islands that make up the city.

For generations, tiny boatyards have built these lopsided boats, with one side curving further outwards than the other. Why? To balance the weight of the oarsman at the end of the boat.

This Italian city is known for its festivals, especially the popular ten-day Carnival in April. Children, teenagers and adults dress in special costumes, unusual stockings and shoes, then do masks before they take part in this celebration. It's difficult to make out who is behind each mask, but it's easy to make friends during this constant party in the streets. What fun!

On other occasions, Venetians celebrate with a regatta or boat race. The city loves the Vogalonga（長途劃船賽）, on the first Sunday of May, best of all. That's when anyone who can row with oars is welcome to join the other boats on the great Grand Canal, especially in fancy dress. Imagine the sight!

Venice is an unusual city, but it is facing an unusual threat. It's sinking. Since it's built on a lagoon, the weight of the city on the silt beneath it threatens its life. “Venice today is sinking three times as fast as before, at 300 mm per century,” explains an environmentalist.

We feel sad about the thought that beautiful Venice, with its splendid churches, its collections of art and its happy spirit, may be buried under the sea someday. May the Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of Venice, never face that day.

1．This text mainly talks about____.

A．the boats of Venice

B．a voyage in Venice

C．a brief introduction to Venice

D．the reason of Venice's sinking

2．The boats in Venice are designed with one side curving further outwards than the other because____.

A．the Venetians wanted to make them special

B．it will be easier to keep the balance

C．it is designed for the oarsman who is over-weighted on the boat

D．there are 180 smaller water passages that run through the 118 islands

3．What do we know about festivals in Venice?

A．The festivals are based on the strange Italian lagoon.

B．The residents will make masks during the Carnival.

C．Festivals are held for people to make friends.

D．People can have a boat race during the Vogalonga in April.

4．According to this text, the sinking of Venice is because of____.

A．the pollution in the city

B．collapse of the silt beneath the city

C．the industry of this city

D．so many canals there

5．Where do you think this text comes from?

A．A magazine for travelers.

B．An advertisement from a travel agency.

C．A scientific magazine.

D．A magazine for Venice merchants.

1．【答案】C

【精析】通讀全文可知全篇都在講述和介紹威尼斯這個城市，故選C項。

2．【答案】B

【精析】由第三段最后一句可知把船造成這樣是為了起到平衡作用，故選B項。

3．【答案】B

【精析】由第四段第二句話可知道威尼斯的人們在十天的狂歡節中除了穿著打扮外，還要制作面具，故選B項。

4．【答案】B

【精析】由文章倒數第二段第三句話可以很快找到答案。

5．【答案】A

【精析】文章介紹威尼斯的概況，可判斷其最有可能出現在旅游雜志上。