“Taxidrivers”saidBOGC(Beijing2008OlympicGamesCommittee)staff“arelearningEnglishtosupportthe2008BeijingOlympicGames.”AlbertSelmeraGermanbusinessmanwhospeaksgoodEnglishwaspleasantlysur

题目详情

“Taxi drivers” said BOGC (Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Committee) staff “are learning English to support the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.”

Albert Selmer a German businessman who speaks good English was pleasantly surprised during his latest trip to Beijing. When he got into a taxi on Chang’an Avenue（街） the driver greeted him and asked where he would like to go—in English! “This couldn’t be imagined eight years ago when I first visited Beijing ” said Selmer. Selmer wouldn’t have been so surprised if he had known many people are learning English in this Olympic city.

Fourteen years ago Beijing failed in its bid（申办）for the 2000 Games. One of the reasons was that foreigners found it hard to communicate with Beijing residents （市民） most of whom speak only Chinese. This time the city is working to improve communication.

“One great change has happened during Beijing’s preparation ” BOGO officials are speaking directly in English instead of using interpreters as they did 14 years ago.

In addition to BOGO officials Beijing residents are looking forward to the 2008 Games by actively learning the foreign language. Free classes offered in a number of Beijing communities are enjoying high attendance. Residents are taught useful expressions greetings how to give directions and how to introduce themselves.

Shop assistants bus and taxi drivers and even policemen are learning English. The young taxi driver who surprised the German visitor is probably one of those learners.

The first-stage aim of the “ Beijing citizens’ English Speaking Plan” started by the city government in August is to popularize English among government staff taxi drivers hotel staff and shop assistants. In five years the percentage of Beijing residents who can speak English will be raised to around 30 percent from the present15 percent.

1．Albert Selmer was surprised when he got into the taxi because ______.

A．he found the driver served him better.

B．the car didn’t look the same as it did eight years ago.

C．the driver was very polite to him

D．the driver could speak English

2．From the passage we know that ______.

A．the main reason why Beijing failed in its bid for the 2000 Games was that very few people could speak English.

B．Albert Selmer often came to China in recent years.

C．Beijing residents are taking an active part in learning English

D．spoken-English is of great importance in our daily life

3．More and more Beijingers are learning English in order to ______.

A．make themselves understood easily while talking to foreigners