Passage B 单项选择 根据短文内容， 从各题的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案，并将其代表字母涂（填）在答题卡（纸）的相应位置。

The taxi plays an important role in Britain. When thinking of London, many image （形象）come to mind: Big Ben, the Ferris Wheel（摩天轮）,red telephone boxes…and black London taxis.

But what is so special about a simple taxi? First of all, in shape and style, a London taxi is very different from an ordinary one. It looks like a half-car and half-van（半厢式货车）. It has plenty of room in the back. That means it's easy for disabled people to use. And the black color makes it special on the road.

Besides, taxi drivers play an important part in your travel. They have to pass a taxi driving test, and in London it is very difficult. As there are many tourists in London, drivers must know many roads by memory.

Apart from（除此之外）driving you to your destination, it is normal for the driver and the passenger to have a conversation. A taxi is a social space which the driver and you share. The image of a London taxi driver is one that friendly and talkactive. Every time I take a taxi, I ask how the driver is. Then we usually talk about sports or news events.

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      Not only women wear skirts. Men can wear them, too. In Scotland (苏格兰), men wear a kilt – a kind of skirt. The kilt is their national dress.
      The kilt has checks (方格) and different colors, like red or blue. Each family in Scotland has its own colors. How did the Scotsmen (苏格兰男人) start to wear kilts. There is a story about it. Rawlinson had some workers from Scotland in his office and he thought their clothing got in the way of their work. So he cut their clothes into a shorter skirt.
      Today, they usually only wear them at weddings (婚礼) or big dinners. Only a few men wear a kilt every day. Scotsmen also wear kilts in big parties. The policemen still have skills as the dress uniforms, but they don't wear them to catch the thieves.

阅读理解

China has been famous around the world since ancient times. In the past, we had the Four Great Inventions. Nowadays, more inventions and creations have made China stronger and greater in the world.

On May 5^th, 2017, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China's first large homemade jet airliner(喷气式客机), the C919, took off successfully for the first time. It has taken about ten years for the scientists and researchers to make this Chinese dream come true, It's a pride of the whole nation. So far, more than 23 companies have already ordered 570 C919 planes from China. But we still have a long way to go before the C919 carries passengers by 2020. It also faces the challenge of competing with the Airbus A320 and the new Boeing B737.

What's more, China is working on the new high-speed trains with the highest speed of 400 km/h. It will be ready by 2020. The new trains are expected to push area cooperation(合作) and create new business for China and foreign countries. Many countries, especially the ones in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, are planning to build high-speed rail lines or to improve their railways with the help of China. They'd like to get support in technology from China.

China has made great progress in both science and technology. And it makes a great contribution(贡献) to human, too. All of these are changing the daily life of Chinese people, even of the people around the world.

    It seems that many stars are putting their fashion (时尚) skills to good use and some of them have succeeded in designing.

    Avril Lavigne

    “With a lot of designs, I try to tie in with some of my lyrics and more musical elements,” Lavigne said. Her product, named after a childhood nickname (绰号) from her father, was created three years ago, but Lavigne came up with the first idea for a clothing product when she was only 19 years old.

Victoria Beckham

    Victoria created her own style of jeans for the clothing brand (品牌) Rock & Republic in 2004. Later, she created her own brand with the name DVB style and now she is more popular as a designer than as a singer.

    Madonna

    Pop queen Madonna created her fashion products in collaboration (合作) with the Swedish clothing company Hennes & Mauritz AB ( H&M) in 2007. She then collaborated with her daughter Lourders in creating 2010 juniors' product for Macy's called “Material Girl”.

    Jessica Simpson

    Jessica Simpson created her own collection of jeans. She worked with the Camuto Group and Jones Apparel Group Inc.

    Justin Timberlake

    No one could imagine that Justin would become a fashion designer until he paired with his friend Trace Ayala to create the William Rast label. Their clothing is presented every season and attracts attention of Timberlake's fans and models.