The sharing economy, represented by companies like Airbnb or Uber, is the latest fashion craze. But many supporters have overlooked the reality that this new business model is largely based on escaping regulations and breaking the law.
Airbnb is an internet-based service that allows people to rent out spare rooms to strangers for short stays. Uber is an internet taxi service that allows thousands of people to answer ride requests with their own cars. There are hundreds of other such services.
The good thing about the sharing economy is that it promotes the use of underused resources. Millions of people have houses or apartments with empty rooms, and Airbnb allows them to profit from these rooms while allowing guests a place to stay at prices that are often far less than those charged by hotels. Uber offers prices that are competitive with standard taxi prices and their drivers are often much quicker and more trustworthy.
But the downside of the sharing economy has gotten much less attention. Most cities and states both tax and regulate hotels, and the tourists who stay in hotels are usually an important source of tax income. But many of Airhnb’s customers are not paying the taxes required under the law.
Airbnb can also raise issues of safety for its customers and I trouble for hosts' neighbors. Hotels are regularly inspected(检查) to ensure that they are not fire traps and that they don't form other risks for visitors. Airbnb hosts face no such inspections.
Since Airbnb is allowing people to escape taxes and regulations, the company is simply promoting thefts. Others in the economy will lose by bearing an additional tax burden or being forced to live next to an apartment unit with a never-ending series of noisy visitors.
The same story may apply with Uber. Uber is currently in disputes over whether its cars meet the safety and insurance requirements imposed on standard taxis. Also, if Uber and related services flood the market, they could harm all taxi drivers' ability to earn a minimum wage.
This downside of the sharing needs to be taken seriously, but that doesn't mean the current tax and regulatory structure is perfect.
1.What is the positive thing about the sharing economy?
A. It makes use of spare resources.
B. It is beyond regulations.
C. It is a global trend.
D. It brings in modest profits.
2.What is the problem with Airbnb customers according to the passage?
A. They are not regularly inspected.
B. They may disturb hosts’ neighbours.
C. They are not allowed to escape taxes.
D. They are likely to commit thefts.
3.What is the argument over Uber according to the passage?
A. Whether it lowers customers' expenses.
B. Whether it provides reliable services.
C. Whether it guarantees customers' safety.
D. Whether it can compete with standard taxis.
4.What will be talked about in the following paragraphs?
A. Existing regulations and laws.
B. Necessary improvements of current laws.
C. Further development of Airbnb and Uber.
D. More downsides of Airbnb and Uber.
There’s something rotten in Rio and the smell is coming from the huge stacks of rubbish piled up on sidewalks all over the city. Rio's street sweepers chose the carnival holiday to demand better salaries. Their wages start at roughly $400 a month.
There could hardly be a better time for them to prove their importance. The streets were left a mess after hundreds of carnival parades and now, rubbish pries up in both poor and uptown neighborhoods and in tourist areas like Ipanema or Copacabana beach.
The president of Rio's rubbish collecting company has even appealed to the population to store rubbish at home whenever possible. He says 30% of the city's sweepers have gone on strike. Some of those who have been working have been threatened by the strike movement so now the police have been deployed alongside rubbish collectors to keep them sage as they go about their business.
The strike has divided opinions in Rio. On social media, many support the sweepers' demands for better salaries. Others say they are opportunists and the situation is a big embarrassment to the city.
But Brazil's culture of littering the streets doesn't help. A video that went viral online shows that even authorities have a problem with that. Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, is seen throwing what seemed to be the rest of an apple on the sidewalk—and now promised to impose himself a fine for his wrongdoing. His government recently created a programme to keep Rio's residents from littering the streets.
1.Rio's street cleaners go on strike to ________.
A. prove their importance B. ask for higher salaries
C. appeal to the public not to litter D. threaten the government
2.The reason why the police are involved is that ________.
A. the police are called out to put down the strike
B. the police are called up to collect rubbish for the time being
C. the police are required to protect some cleaners
D. the police are sent to arrest people who litter around
3.The author's attitude to Brazil's culture of littering is ________.
A. critical B. objective
C. supportive D. optimistic
4.The purpose of writing the passage is to ________.
A. criticize street sweepers of Rio for misusing their rights
B. call attention to the embarrassing situation of Rio
C. describe the effect or the strike on people
D. inform people of the present situation of Rio
Clare College Cambridge
Clare is the second oldest college in Cambridge University, having initially been founded in 1326 and refounded by Elizabeth de Clare in 1338. Today, we uphold her educational and social goals and College is a booming community of over 100 Fellows, 450 undergraduate students, 200 graduate students and 100 staff.
The College welcomes visitors, but please remember it is a working environment supporting academic scholarship. We hope you will enjoy the beauty of the gardens and buildings, but it is essential that visitors:
1. conduct themselves quietly around the College;
2. avoid blocking paths or doorways;
3. do not enter areas marked “Private” or “Closed”.
Historic buildings have steep steps and some rough surfaces. So please mind your steps. Please help to maintain the appearance of the College grounds by:
4. not picnicking or dropping litter;
5. keeping to the pathways in Old Court;
6. not smoking while on the College grounds.
The Porters cabins provide first aid facilities. Unfortunately, Clare College does not have public toilets.
Photography
Visitors may use hand held cameras. Photography for commercial purposes requires prior permission in writing from the Head Porter.
Preservation and Donations
Clare College receives no state funding for the preservation of these historic buildings and gardens, but relies instead on donations. If you would like to support the work of the College, its buildings or gardens. Please contact the Development Office (http: www. clarealumni.com). We welcome inquires.
1.From the writing we can learn that Clare College ________.
A. mainly gets the money from donators and the government
B. only opens part of her buildings and gardens to the public
C. enjoys a growing reputation as the second largest in Cambridge University
D. welcomes cameramen to take photos on campus for different purposes
2.Suppose you are a tour guide with a group at Clare College, which of the following might truly put you to trouble?
A. A couple insist enjoying their lunch on the lawn.
B. An elderly woman falls off the steps and hurts herself.
C. Some tourists keep exchanging ideas in a loud voice.
D. A child needs to go to the bathroom suddenly.
3.We can most probably get this piece of writing from ________.
A. the main entrance of Clare College
B. the academic website of Cambridge University
C. the Development Office of Clare College
D. the Head Porter of Cambridge University
假如你是李雷。你的好友韩梅梅因不擅长与别人交流，感到非常痛苦。最近，她来信向你求助。请你根据一下提示给她写一封建议信，鼓励她走出困境。主要内容应包括：
1.我们周围不擅长交流的人挺多的，劝她不必为此事苦恼；
2.告诉她与别人有效地交流是很重要的。与她人搞好关系，可以有助于我们的学习，还能增加成功的机会；
3.结合自身，给出合理的建议鼓励她走出困境。
注意：1.字数：100字左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
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此题要求改正所给短文中的错误。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。请按下列要求改正：
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Today is Tom’s 70th birthday, but there is anybody with him. He feels very disappointing. His sons didn’t care for him on this special day. Although the cakes are very delicious, but he doesn’t want to touch it. He just wants his children come and see him. Nowadays, many young people are so busy and independent which they seldom visit their parents. But blood is thick than water. Our dear parents brought us up for a lot of difficulty. Thus, we should and must bring happy to them when they become old.
Hello, and welcome to our program of successful business women.
Today, we are looking at the of Maria Silvers, the 1. (found) of a chain of coffee bars. She comes from Singapore, 2. later moved to London with her family. Her father, 3. was a factory manager, filled her a(n) 4. (believe) in hard work. Maria studied political science at university. After 5. (leave) university, she became a teacher. When her father died, she went to New York for a break. Every morning, she’d go to a coffee bar.
When she got back to London she realized that there 6. (be) nothing like those coffee bars. So she decided 7. (give) up her job and do something about it. She opened the first coffee bar in 1995, and her 8. (succeed) was quick. She opened ten more the 9. (follow) year. Now she is proud of her success and plans to open eighty more 10. the eighty-five she already had. And Maria is only 33 years old.
