四、阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分，计30分)

阅读下列内容，从每小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。

(A)

Welcome to this short tour of London. In this square we are standing in the middle of London. Opposite(对面) is the National Gallery, a museum with lots of famous paintings. Go along the red street to Buckingham Palace. The queen (后) lives here.

Turn left and go to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Opposite you can see the London Eye. It takes you 135 meters above the River Thames. You can see most of London on a clear day.

When you are tired, the best way to see London is by boat. You can get the boat near Big Ben. As you go along the river, the London Eye is on your right, near the Railway Bridge.

Get off the boat at Tower Bridge. Then you can see the Tower of London next to the bridge. The Tower of London is the city’s oldest palace. It is nine hundred years old.

Take the boat back along the river. Get off the boat and go past the station and walk along the street. Opposite is the old fruit and vegetable market. They don’t sell fruit and vegetables now. There are stores and restaurants, and lots of street musicians. Turn left into King’s Street, and go past the church. You’re now back where you started, at the square. Now you finish your tour.

(   )51. If you go to visit the National Gallery, what will you find? ww w.X kb1.coM

A. lots of lovely animals       B. lots of valuable plants

C. lots of famous paintings     D. lots of interesting books

(   )52. ______ is London’s oldest palace.

A. The Tower of London       B. The National Gallery

C. Buckingham Palace    D. The Houses of Parliament

(   )53. ______ is the London Eye.     A. b  B. c  C. d    D.  e

(B)

Dear Nina,

Thanks for your e-mail. Yes, I am in Japan now.

Food can be very expensive in Japan. We learned this is the first time we went to get some food. As soon as we reached Osaka(大阪), we decided to look for a Japanese restaurant near the airport. We wanted to eat noodles, and we found a nice restaurant. The menu was easy to read because it was written in Japanese and English, with pictures of the food. However, I was shocked when I saw the prices. On the first page of the menu there were dishes for 8,000 yen and 12,000 yen. I even saw a dish for 23,000 yen. In other words, these dishes cost $80, $120, and $230. Luckily,  the noodles we ordered were only 800 yen.

Prices for food can be high here, but they don’t have to be. We soon realized that there was a lot of excellent food in Japan at good prices. Some restaurants that sell noodles can have nice meals for between five or ten dollars. We can also have a nice cup of coffee for $5, but it’s also easy to find coffee or soft drinks at the train or subway stations for a little over $1.

Hope you are having a good time back home. By the way, how’s my cat?

Nancy