A
If you are travelling from one of London’s international airports to central London, don’t take taxi unless you are very rich! The minimum(最少的)fare from Heathrow, the airport nearest to central London, is about 25 pounds. If you are travelling in a group of four people and each of you has a lot of luggage, you may feel that it would be worth paying for a taxi.
If you simply want to cross London from one railway station to another or from a station to your hotel, then a taxi may be a good idea. Although taxis may seem quite expensive, they make life a lot easier if you have a lot of luggage, or if you are not confident about finding your way around the underground system. Here are some useful facts about using taxis:
Licensed(有许可证的) taxis are large, and usually black, vehicles with a small white plate(牌照)on the back showing a license number and the words Hackney Carriages.
The best place to find a taxi is at a railway station. Follow the signs for a taxi and you will find what is called a taxi rank (a place in the road where a taxi can stop). Another good place to find a taxi is near a large hotel.
If you are not at a station, you will have to stand in the street and wait for one to go past. Look for a taxi which has an orange light lit up over the driver’s window—this means that it is not being used by anyone else.
When the taxi is quite close, raise your arm and wave the driver down. The taxi should stop for you.
When you pay, it is usual to give the driver a tip of at least 10%.
【文章大意】本文主要讲述了在伦敦乘出租车的注意事项以及怎么乘出租车。
21. What does the author say about the taxi in London?
A. It is hard to catch a taxi at the airport.
B. It is a good choice to cross London by taxi.
C. Its service is far from satisfactory.
D. Its fare is not very high.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。从第二段第一句看出, 如果你仅仅想从一个火车站穿行到另一个火车站, 或穿行到宾馆, 乘出租车是个好主意。
22. Where can you find a taxi easily according to the author?
A. A bus station.
B. A small hotel.
C. A large shopping center.
D. A taxi rank near a railway station.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据第四段第一句可知, 找到出租车的最好的地方“at a railway station”。
23. What should you take note of if you want to stop a taxi?
A. Whether the driver is waving.
B. Whether it is a white licensed taxi.
C. Whether the taxi stops at the right place.
D. Whether its light is on.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。从第五段中的“Look for a taxi which has an orange light lit up over the driver’s window”可以看出, 等车时要注意车窗上亮着橘色灯的车。这意味着此车是空车, 可以搭乘。
