New York used to be the city that never sleeps. These days, it"s the city that never smokes, drinks or does anything naughty (at least, not in public). The Big Apple is quickly turning into the Forbidden Apple.
If you wanted a glass of wine with your picnic in Central Park, could you have one? No chance. Drinking alcohol in public isn"t allowed. If you decided to feed the birds with the last crumbs (碎屑) of your sandwich, you could be arrested. It"s illegal if you went to a bar for a drink and a cigarette, that would be OK, wouldn"t it? Er... no. You can"t smoke in public in New York City.
What"s going on? Why is the city that used to be so open-minded becoming like this? The mayor of New York is behind it all. He has brought in a whole lot of new laws to stop citizens from doing what they want, when they want.
The press is shocked. Even the New York police have joined the argument. They recently spent $100,000 on a "Don"t blame the cop" campaign. One New York police officer said, "We raise money for the city by giving people fines for breaking some very stupid laws. It"s all about money."
The result is a lot of fines for minor offences. Yoav Kashida, an Israel tourist, fell asleep on the subway. When he woke up, two police officers fined him because he had fallen asleep on two seats (you mustn"t use two seats in the subway). Elle and Serge Schroitman were fined for blocking a driveway with their car. It was their own driveway.
The angry editor of
Vanity Fair
magazine, Graydon Carter, says, "Under New York city law it is acceptable to keep a gun in your place of work, but not an empty ashtray." He should know. The police came to his office and took away his ashtray (烟灰缸).
But not all of the New York"s inhabitants are complaining. Marcia Dugatty, 72, said, "The city has changed for the better. If more cities had these laws, America would be a better place to live." Nixon Patricks, 38, a barman, said, "I like the new laws, if people smoked here, we"d go home smelling of cigarettes."
Recent figures show that New York now has fewer crimes per 100,000 people than other U.S. cities. And it"s true—it"s safer, cleaner and more healthy than before. But let"s be honest—who goes to New York for its clean streets?
单选题
Some activities have recently become illegal in New York.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 文章相关句：These days, it"s the city that never smokes, drinks or does anything naughty (at least, in public). 故答案为A。
单选题
It is now illegal to smoke or drink alcohol anywhere in New York.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 文章相关句：These days, it"s the city that never smokes, drinks or does anything naughty (at least, in public). 故答案为B。
单选题
Eating apples in the park is illegal.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 该题属于推断题。文章相关句：These days, it"s the city that never smokes, drinks or does anything naughty (at least, in public). 故答案为B。
单选题
The businessmen like the new laws.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 文章中根本没有提到商人的情况。故答案为C。
单选题
Elle and Serge Schoronitman parked their car on the public driveway.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 文章相关句：It was their own driveway. 故答案为B。
单选题
The editor of
Vanity Fair
magazine thinks some of the new laws are stupid.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 该题属于推断题。文章相关句：Under New York city law it is acceptable to keep a gun in your place of work, but not an empty ashtray. 故答案为A。
单选题
New York is cleaner and safer than before.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 文章相关句：And it"s true—it"s safer, cleaner and more healthy than before. 故答案为A。