单选题 Read the following text. Answer the questions below the text by choosing A, B, C or D.

Centers of the Great European Cities

The centers of the great cities of Europe are meeting places by tradition. People gather there to drink coffee and chat late into the night. A mixture of locals and tourists make for an exciting, metropolitan atmosphere.
Squares, plazas and arcades form the heart of Europe's cities.
Venice in Italy has the Piazza San Marco—a beautiful square surrounded by shops, churches, restaurants and cafes. In Barcelona, Spain, La Bosqueria is a lively market with hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of goods. London's Covent Garden is filled with fruit and vegetable stalls by day and musicians, acrobats and artists by night. The government buildings at the center of many cities often are architecturally impressive. In London, they serve as a beautiful backdrop to the coffee tables that line the streets and the banks of the Thames.
These vibrant hearts are the product of centuries of evolution, social historian Joe Garreau told US News and World Report recently. "The reason people think Venice is so great today is you don't see all the mistakes," said Garreau. "Those have all been removed." Most European cities were laid out before the invention of the car, so bars, restaurants and cafes were near to people's homes. Today, the focus of many Europeans' life has moved away from the centers. They live in the suburbs and outskirts, driving to supermarkets to get their supplies. But on a continent where people treasure convention, there are still those who hold onto traditional ways, living and shopping locally. These people, together with tourists, provide the city centers with the reason for existence.
Coffee culture plays a part in keeping these city centers flourishing. This is particularly true of Paris whose citizens are famous enthusiastic conversationalists. This skill is developed over many hours spent chatting over espressos and cigarettes.
Religion also plays a role in developing sociable atmosphere. People in Roman Catholic countries used to visit the church on an almost daily basis. Entire communities would gather in the same building and then move out to the markets, cafes and bars in the surrounding streets. An enormous example of this relationship between church and society is the Duomo. The huge marble cathedral is in Florence. Italy is surrounded by bakeries and coffee shops, and caters not only to the tourist crowds, but also the local community.

单选题 What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A. Each big city in Europe has many large squares.
B. European cities have many magnificent skyscrapers.
C. Cities in Europe draw tourists in large numbers every year.
D. Every city has a center where tourists meet their spouses.

单选题 Which statement is NOT TRUE of Covent Garden?

A. It is a meeting place for musicians.
B. It is a market selling fruit and vegetables by day.
C. It is very attractive because of its architectural style.
D. It is Surrounded by shops, churches, restaurants and cafes.

单选题 Why do people think that Venice is so great?

A. Because it is a famous tourist attraction.
B. Because you can reach anywhere by boat.
C. Because it is well-known for its merchants.
D. Because all the mistakes have been removed.

单选题 What are Parisians famous for?

A. Their pursuit of romance.
B. Their enthusiasm for conversation.
C. Their ability to keep the city flourishing.
D. Their devotion to developing a multiple culture.

单选题 The writer cites the Duomo in the last paragraph as an example to illustrate that ______.

A. there is a tight link between church and society
B. all churches are magnificent
C. old churches are very popular
D. high-rise churches are impressive