A
Why go to Madrid?
There may be a slight chill(寒冷) in the air，with temperatures staying around 15℃ in March，but Spain's handsome capital is slowly starting to warm up.Even more attractive are the cultural events.
A new exhibition on the living and working spaces of Spain's greatest artist，Picasso，has just opened in the studio at the Fundación Mapfre at Paseo de Recoletos 23.It runs until 11 May with rarely seen pieces borrowed from his family.
Later this summer, the anniversary of the death of the Renaissance(文艺复兴) painter El Greco will be marked with an exciting exhibition at the Museo del Prado at Paseo del Prado from 24 June to 5 October.
How to go?
The widest range of flights is offered by EasyJet—from Bristol，Edinburgh，Gatwick，Liverpool and Luton.British Airways and its sister airline Iberia combine forces from Heathrow and London City.Ryanair flies from Manchester and Stansted；Air Europa flies from Gatwick.
Barajas Airport is 12 km northeast of the city centre and is served by frequent trains on Metro Line 8，but the shortest underground journey is a bit complex with at least one change at Nuevos Ministerios Station and takes about 30 minutes. The fare to any station in the city centre is 
4.50.The airport express bus runs every 15 to 35 minutes around the clock；5 one way.It takes 40 minutes to reach the city centre.A taxi takes half the time.A flat rate of 30 covers most of central Madrid.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇应用文，介绍了去马德里旅游的相关内容。
1．When will the exhibition about Picasso close?
A．On 23 March. B．On 11 May.
C．On 24 June. D．On 5 October.
B [考查细节理解。根据Why go to Madrid？部分中的“A new exhibition on the living and working spaces of Spain's greatest artist，Picasso”“It runs until 11 May with rarely seen pieces borrowed from his family”可知，有关毕加索生活和工作的地方的展览会持续到5月11日，故选B。]
2．Which airline operates flights from Manchester to Madrid?
A．EasyJet. B．Ryanair.
C．Air Europa. D．British Airways.
B [考查细节理解。根据How to go？部分中的“Ryanair flies from Manchester and Stansted”可知，Ryanair航空公司经营从曼彻斯特到马德里的航线。故选B。]
3．What is the fastest way to reach central Madrid from Barajas Airport?
A．Take a taxi.
B．Take a city bus.
C．Take Metro Line 8.
D．Take the airport express bus.
A [考查细节理解。根据最后一段中的“Metro Line 8...takes about 30 minutes”“The airport express bus...takes 40 minutes”“A taxi takes half the time”可知，乘坐Metro Line 8需要大约30分钟，乘坐机场特快公共汽车需要40分钟，乘坐出租车需要20分钟。由此可知，乘坐出租车是最快的。故选A。]
