There's no place in the world like Venice, Italy. Called the City of Water, Venice was built about 1,500 years ago. It's made up of 118 tiny islands in the Adriatic Sea. The area, however, may be in over its head. But now scientists have a new plan to save the city. Because the city was built on soft soil, it has been sinking under the pressure of its own weight. Scientists estimate that Venice sinks at a rate of nearly 2 inches every 100 years. Rising sea levels could make Venice go under even faster, some experts say. Earth's temperature is slowly increasing. That is causing sea ice to melt, which makes the world's waters rise, they say. To keep the city afloat, experts want to pump about 40 billion gallons of sea water beneath Venice. The liquid would expand the sand under the city, which would help support the islands, explains lead scientist Giuseppe Gambolati. Experts are rushing to save Venice because of its rich history. The city was once a strong sea power. "Many famous artists and opera singers have come from Venice. Some of the world's greatest paintings can be found on the city's museum walls," explains Melissa Conn, who is a director of Save Venice Inc. While scientists work to get their water-pumping plan approved, Venice's residents go about their normal routines. When the tide rolls in, the locals have ways of keeping everyone dry. Cafe owners move tables to higher ground, and hotels pass out high boots to guests. Still, dealing with the rising water does not give the city's residents a sinking feeling, just ask Erla Zwingle. She has lived in Venice for 17 years. "There has always been high water in Venice." Zwingle told WR News. "If high water really were a serious problem, people wouldn't be still living here." According to Melissa Conn, Venice_. A) is not protecting properly B) deserves the world's attention C) is best-known only for its artists D) has difficulty surviving the rising temperature
B

There is nothing in the US quite like Black Friday. Before midnight on Thursday, in malls across the US, people start queuing up outside the locked entrances of stores, making longer and longer lines, holding coupons  , sipping coffee and hot chocolate, rubbing their hands and stamping   their feet for warmth, excitedly chatting, and waiting for the clerks to open the door when the time arrives. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which fell on Nov 28,2014, "has become in recent decades a special American holiday", said the International Business Times. Indeed, up to 147 million Black Friday shoppers were expected to put up with the dark of night and the elbows of other shoppers so that they could bring home some bargains, according to the US National Retail Federation. But why does the shopping festival have such a name? The name was first used in Philadelphia in the 1970s. The streets and sidewalks of the city became so packed with traffic and crowds on the day after Thanksgiving Day that the local police did not look forward to it. Because of this, they called the day "Black Friday", said The Huffington Post. However, others believe that Black Friday takes its name from the fact that because of the increase in sales on the day, shops are able for the first time in the year to move out of the "red" - that is, debt - and into the "black", or profit. Businesses, of course, try to take advantage of this day. A decade ago, retailers   opened at 5 or 6 am. Now, many of the big stores open at midnight. People really seem to like the whole experience of queuing up before midnight, "for it isn't just about the bargains", noted CNN. "For many shoppers, it's just fun to be part of a large crowd. Those who go to the malls at midnight are driven by the same thing that makes a million people get together in Times Square each New Year's Eve." According to The Huffington Post, the name of "Black Friday" may be first used   _  . A) at the beginning of the 20th century in the US B) by American people who expected to bring home bargains after Thanksgiving Day C) by the police to show their displeasure toward heavy traffic caused by shopping crowds D) to describe the bad weather on the day
C

Cyprus is the third largest island and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea. It attracts over 24 million tourists every year. It gained independence  from the UK in 1960. Cyprus is a developed country and has been a member of the European Union since 1 May ,2004. It didn't begin to use the euro  until 1 January. 2008. As a tourist destination, Cyprus has clean beaches and fine weather all the year round. There are Roman and Greek ruins on the  island, which attract tourists most.     You can enjoy skiing and hiking in its huge mountains and charming villages. In the towns and cities, there are some modern hotels, bars and clubs with bright lights and rich nightlife. The story of the island can date back over 10,000 years. Cyprus has long been seen as an important strategic  base. Many civilizations  have swept through it over the years. In 1974 the Turkish army arrived on the northern coast of Cyprus. They were invited by the Turkish Cypriot leader in order to protect the Turkish villages. Since then the Turkish army took control of the northern third of the island. The Greek               Cypriot controlled the other. UN peacekeeping forces kept the peace between the two sides. Although it has political problems,  Cyprus is a country that easily links modern European culture with its past.   Here, visitors can discover clean beaches, all kinds of grape wine and ancient ruins.   With fruit trees around,  the old stone villages make tourists feel that modern Europe seems a very long way away indeed. The writer of the text mainly wants to tell readers  . A) the political situations in Cyprus B) the famous destinations in Europe C) some stories about the EU D) some information about Cyprus
D

"A Long Walk Home"-----life as Eli Reed saw it American photographer and photojournalist Eli Reed has been documenting "life as I saw it" for more than 40 years. His career retrospective , "Eli Reed: A Long Walk Home", is an extraordinary search of beauty while recording hardship. With a heart of love, Reed uses a style that uncovers humanity at every turn. According to Reed, "A Long Walk Home" is about what it means to be a human being. It all began with a photo he took of his mother and his memory of her smile. Raised in New Jersey, reed was originally a painter. Primarily self-taught in photography, he became a freelance photographer in 1970. after producing some impressive photos that drew much attention, he joined the famous company Magnum Photos---the first black photographer invited to do so. His photos are remarkable in their lack of judgment of the people or the situations he comes across. In Beirut, Lebanon, a man removes a tree branch from a car in a recently bombed parking lot. An old man wrapped in a sheet plays a drum in front of a sign reading "God Is the Way" while National Guardsmen lift their guns during a war in Miami. A young boy upside down with his legs in the air in a Kenyan refugee camp, his determined look faces the camera. In Harlem, New York, a group of laughing children take over an abandoned car, using it as a jungle gym. Where another photographer might have focused on the _ of these situations. Reed's camera smiles. His images show how humans cope, rise above, and carry on. This is what gives " A Long Walk Home" its power. Considering the places Reed has been to, there are very few photos of guns or obvious violence. Instead, Reed  focuses on the varied human responses to hardship. We smile along with Reed in a gesture of compassion and solidarity. We recognize our fellow human beings. In his work "A Long Walk Home". Reed's photos  _  . A) aim to draw others' sympathy B) were taken only in America C) reflect the strength of humans D) focus on war and violence

C