A
(2018·江西南昌二模)Imagine walking through an ancient city, then climbing a gate tower to take in a wonderful view of the city and its more than 600－year－old walls. You can hear the city's heartbeat in the air. This is the Ancient City of Pingyao in Shanxi Province, a place that should definitely be on your travel route if you enjoy history or ancient architecture since its origins can be traced back to more than 2,700 years ago.
Located in the center of Shanxi Province, Pingyao is the hometown of Jin merchants, a group of merchants who actively dominated(支配) a booming commodity market throughout China for more than 500 years, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the city's agriculture and manufacturing industries developed rapidly. Following China's reform and opening up since 1978, Pingyao struggled with the transition from a managed economy to the current market－oriented economy. During this time, the city government sought out new ways to break through, this economic bottleneck.
Finally in the winter of 1997, opportunity came knocking. Through the efforts of the city government, Pingyao earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which caused the entire world to take notice of the city.
Since the city's fame has risen, locals in Pingyao have deepened their understanding of the conservation efforts preserving the historical relics in their hometown. Meanwhile the city administration has continued to upgrade itself through a strategy that follows the pillars of “conservation, entrepreneurship, development and protection”．
Currently, the city is focusing on establishing a sustainable industry that will enable it to continue to grow while also protecting its relics and introducing them to the world.
语篇解读：本文按时间顺序介绍了平遥古城的发展变化。
1．What does the underlined word “transition” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A．Translation. B．Spread.
C．Range. D．Change.
[解析] 词义猜测题。根据第二段中的“Following China's reform and opening up since 1978, Pingyao struggled with the transition from a managed economy to the current market－oriented economy.”可知，改革开放之后，平遥努力从计划经济转变为市场经济。由此可猜测，transition的意思是“转变”，故D选项正确。
[答案] D
2．What contributed to Pingyao's popularity around the world?
A．The city government's hard work.
B．The official recognition by the UNESCO.
C．The development of Pingyao's economy.
D．The ancient architecture in the city.
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Through the efforts of the city government, Pingyao earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which caused the entire world to take notice of the city.”可知，通过市政府的努力，平遥被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录，这引发了全世界对平遥的关注。由此可知，得到联合国教科文组织的认可是使平遥受到全世界欢迎的原因。
[答案] B
3．What measure is taken to further develop the city?
A．Combining economy with cultural protection.
B．Constructing more modern buildings.
C．Learning from other cities in the world.
D．Establishing manufacturing industries.
[解析] 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“Currently, the city is focusing on establishing a sustainable industry that will enable it to continue to grow while also protecting its relics and introducing them to the world.”可知，目前，平遥正在努力建立可持续发展的产业，该产业使得平遥可以持续发展，同时又可以保护它的遗产，让这些遗产被全世界人民了解。
[答案] A
4．How is the text developed?
A．By giving examples. B．By following time order.
C．By listing reasons. D．By raising questions.
[解析] 推理判断题。根据第二段中的“in 1949, since 1978”，第三段中的“in the winter of 1997”，第四段中的“Since the city's fame has risen”和最后一段中的“Currently”可知，本文按时间顺序介绍了平遥的发展变化。
[答案] B
