Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

Due to rising pollution and a strengthening yuan, Beijing saw its tourist numbers drop to 4.20 million visits from January to November in 2013 from 5.01 million visits in 2012.

The number of overseas travelers to Beijing grew after the city hosted the 2008 Olympics until 2012, when it saw a 3.8% __1__, followed by the further drop last year. The unexpected drop in 2013 came __2__ new policies introduced in a(n) __3__ to support China’s tourism industry. But only 14,000 tourists __4__ the visa-free stopover, according to the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, well short of the 20,000 target officials had __5__ predicted.

Jiang Yiyi, deputy director of the Institute of International Tourism at the China Tourism Academy, __6__ part of the drop-off in foreign tourists to the strengthening yuan.

In 2013, the yuan increased almost 3% against the U.S. dollar, making “Beijing a more expensive __7__ than in the past”, Jiang Yiyi noted. “At the same time,” she said, “other countries have seen their tourist numbers grow as the currencies(货币) __8__. While RMB is on the rise, currencies from some of China’s __9__ for tourism, such as Japan, are depreciating(贬值), meaning travel to some other Asian countries has been getting cheaper while travel to China is becoming more expensive, ” Jiang Yiyi said. In 2013, the Japanese yen fell 21% against the U.S. dollar, __10__ 10 million overseas tourists.

The Beijing Tourism Development Commission noted that the country’s battle with pollution is another __11__ cities face in attracting overseas tourists.

Heavy air pollution from Beijing to Shanghai, where pollution levels went off the charts in December, __12__ don’t do much to help attract tourists. China’s tourism officials are expecting to __13__ the trend of declining overseas visitors in 2014—possible, experts say, if it __14__ its outdated tour packages and lowers ticket prices.

Jiang Yiyi at the China Tourism Academy suggests China adopt a long-term national plan to __15__ the country’s image and investment in overseas tourism to attract more visitors.

1. A. growth                B. decline                    C. change                           D. influence

2. A. in addition to       B. by means of            C. as a result of            D. in spite of

3. A. attempt               B. agreement               C. hurry                      D. mood

4. A. got familiar with  B. came up with          C. took advantage of    D. put emphasis on

5. A. fortunately          B. frequently               C. previously               D. occasionally

6. A. devoted               B. owed                       C. attached                  D. exposed

7. A. destination          B. tourism                   C. authority                 D. association

8. A. reform                 B. collapse                   C. stabilize                  D. weaken

9. A. competitors         B. supporters               C. investors                 D. reminders

10. A. inspiring            B. attracting                C. disappointing          D. embarrassing

11. A. opportunity        B. situation                 C. obstacle                   D. alternative

12. A. relevantly          B. approximately         C. dramatically            D. certainly

13. A. set                            B. reverse                    C. confirm                   D. follow

14. A. revises               B. sells                        C. excludes                  D. demonstrates

15. A. create                B. keep                        C. damage                   D. improve

【参考答案】

1. B      2. D   3. A       4. C     5. C     

6. B      7. A       8. D      9. A       10. B    

11. C         12. D     13. B  14. A     15. D