概括大意

　　Paris Paris, the capital and the largest city of the country, is in north central France. The Paris metropolitan area contains nearly 20% of the nation’s population and is the economic, cultural, and political center of France. The French governments have historically favored the city as the site for all decision making, thus powerfully attracting nearly all of the nation’s activities.

　　Paris has grown steadily since it was chosen as the national capital in the late 10th century. With the introduction of the Industrial Revolution, a great number of people moved to the city from the country during the 19th century. The migration was especially stimulated by the construction of railroads, which provided easy access to the capital. After World War II more and more immigrants arrived.

　　The city is the centralized control point of most national radio and television broadcasting. It is a place of publication of the most prestigious newspapers and magazines and an international book publishing center. With more than 100 museums, Paris has truly been one of the greatest concentrations of art treasures in the world. The Louver, opened as a museum in 1793, is one of the largest museums in the world.

　　In the late 1980s about 4.1million pupils annually attended about 47,000 elementary schools. In addition, about 5.4 million students attended some 11,200 secondary schools. Approximately 1.2 million students were enrolled annually at universities and colleges in France in the late 1980s. French centers of learning have served as academic models throughout the world.

　　Paris is the leading industrial center of France, with about one quarter of the nation’s manufacturing concentrated in the metropolitan area. Industries of consumer goods have always bee drawn to Paris by the enormous market of the big population, and modern, high-technology industries also have become numerous since World War II. Chief manufactures are machinery, automobiles, chemicals and electrical equipment.

　　练习

　　1. Paragraph2_________.

　　2. Paragraph3_________.

　　3. Paragraph4_________.

　　4. Paragraph5_________.

　　A History of the city

　　B Industries of the city

　　C Population grown

　　D Education

　　E Cultural center

　　F Immigration

　　5. Paris has in history been the center of___________.

　　6. Since the 10th century, the population of Paris__________.

　　7. Many valuable works of art_________.

　　8. Paris is not only the center of education of France , but also the

　　center_____________.

　　A can be found in Paris

　　B the major events of the nation

　　C of the country’s industries

　　D a lot of cinemas and theaters

　　E has been growing steadily

　　F has been decreasing rapidly

　　参考答案：

　　CEDBBEAC

　　In the mid 1940's, the young ambitious duo Ruth and Elliot Handler, owned a company that made wooden pictures frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson to form a company that would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named Mattel, MATT for Mattson, and EL for Elliot.

　　In the mid 1950's, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lilli was a shapely, pretty fashion doll first made in 1955. She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character in the West German Newsletter, Build.

　　Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of her technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer, to create Barbie's wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent for Barbie was obtained. This would be a fashion doll unlike any of her time. She would be long limbed, shapely, beautiful, and only 11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie.

　　In 1959, the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a cool reception from the toy buyers.

　　Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market.

　　Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memories made with their dolls.

　　1. When Ruth and Elliot Handler was young, they had a strong desire

　　A) to go to school.

　　B) to take photos.

　　C) to make frames.

　　D) to be highly successful.

　　2. Who owned Mattel?

　　A) Mattson.

　　B) Elliot.

　　C) Harold Mattson and Elliot Handler.

　　D) Harold Mattson, Ruth and Ellion Handler.

　　3. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that Lilli was fashioned after

　　A) Build.

　　B) a German doll.

　　C) a pretty girl.

　　D) a shapely woman.

　　4. Where did Ruth Handler's inspiration for the design of the Barbie doll come

　　from?

　　A) Barbie.

　　B) Lilli.

　　C) Charlotte Johnson.

　　D) A fashion designer.

　　5. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the Barbie doll?

　　A) She does not attract young men.

　　B) She has undergone many changes over the years.

　　C) She is 11.5 inches tall.

　　D) She has managed to keep up with fashion.