Passage two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
Twenty years ago, the Urban Land Institute defined the two types of cities that dominated the US landscape: smaller cities that operated around standard 9-5 business hours and large metropolitan areas that ran all 24 hours of the day. Analyzing and comparing cities using the lens of this basic divide gives interesting context to how investment capital flows and housing prices have shifted.
In recent years, many mid-sized cities have begun to adopt a middle-of-the-road approach incorporating the excitement and opportunity of large cities with small cities' quiet after midnight. These 18-hour cities are beginning to make waves in real estate rankings and attract more real estate investment. What is underlying this new movement in real estate, and why do these cities have so much appeal?
18-hour cities combine the best of 24-hour and 9-5 cities, which contributes to downtown revitalization. For decades, many downtown cores in small to mid-sized cities were abandoned after work hours by workers who lived in the suburbs. Movement out of city centers was widespread, and downtown tenants were predominantly made up of the working poor. This generated little commerce for downtown businesses in the evenings, which made business and generating tax revenue for municipal upkeep difficult. With the rise of a new concept in urban planning that aims to make life easier and more convenient, however, increasing popularity for urban areas that cased the real estate pushes, in major cities like San Francisco or New York, has inspired a type of forward thinking urbanity and in smaller cities.
Transforming downtown areas so that they incorporate modern housing and improved walkability to local restaurants, retail, and entertainment—especially when combined with improved infrastructure for cyclists and public transit—makes them appeal to a more affluent demographic. These adjustments encourage employers in the knowledge and talent industries to keep their offices downtown. access to foot traffic and proximity to transit allow the type of entertainment-oriented businesses such as bars and restaurants to stay open later, which attracts both younger, creative workers and baby boomers nearing retirement alike. Because of their smaller size, most keep hours that allow people to enjoy themselves, then have some quiet after midnight, as opposed to large major cities like New York, where the buzz of activity is ongoing.
These 18-hour cities are rapidly on the rise and offer great opportunities for homeowner investment. In many of these cities such as Denver, a diverse and vigorous economy attracted to the urban core has offered stable employment for residents. The right urban mix has propped up home occupancy, increased property values, and attracted significant investment capital.
51. What do we learn about American cities twenty years ago?
A) They were divided into residential and business areas.
B) Their housing prices were linked with their prosperity.
C) There was a clear divide between large and small cities.
D) They were places where large investment capital flowed.
52. What can be inferred from the passage about 18-hour cities?
A) They especially appeal to small businesses.
B) They have seen a rise in property prices.
C) They have replaced quiet with excitement.
D) They have changed America's landscape.
53. Years ago, many downtown cores in small to mid-sized cities .
A) had hardly any business activity
B) were crowded in business hours
C) exhibited no signs of prosperity
D) looked deserted in the evenings
54. What characterizes the new downtown areas in 18-hour cities?
A) A sudden emergence of the knowledge industry.
B) Flooding in of large crowds of migrant workers.
C) Modernized housing and improved infrastructure.
D) More comfortable life and greater upward mobility.
55. What have 18-hour cities brought to the local residents?
A) More chances for promotion.
B) Healthier living environment.
C) Greater cultural diversity.
D) Better job opportunities.
答案解析：
由题干中的关键词“Twenty years ago”定位到第一段第一句。第一段第一句提到“Twenty years ago, the Urban Land Institute defined the two types of cities that dominated the US landscape: smaller cities that operated around standard 9 - 5 business hours and large metropolitan areas that ran all 24 hours of the day.”，即二十年前美国城市明显分为小城市(按标准朝九晚五运营)和大城市(全天24小时运行)两类，所以选C。
由题干中的关键词“18 - hour cities”定位到第五段。第五段提到“The right urban mix has propped up home occupancy, increased property values, and attracted significant investment capital.”，即合适的城市组合提升了房屋入住率、增加了房产价值并吸引了大量投资资本，说明18小时城市房价上升，所以选B。
由题干中的关键词“Years ago, many downtown cores in small to mid - sized cities”定位到第三段。第三段提到“For decades, many downtown cores in small to mid - sized cities were abandoned after work hours by workers who lived in the suburbs... This generated little commerce for downtown businesses in the evenings”，即几十年来，中小城市的许多市中心在下班后被住在郊区的工人抛弃，晚上市中心商业活动很少，说明晚上看起来像被遗弃了，所以选D。
由题干中的关键词“the new downtown areas in 18 - hour cities”定位到第四段。第四段提到“Transforming downtown areas so that they incorporate modern housing and improved walkability to local restaurants, retail, and entertainment—especially when combined with improved infrastructure for cyclists and public transit—makes them appeal to a more affluent demographic.”，即改造市中心区域，使其包含现代住房、改善到当地餐馆、零售和娱乐场所的步行便利性，特别是结合改善的自行车和公共交通基础设施，所以选C。
由题干中的关键词“18 - hour cities”和“local residents”定位到第五段。第五段提到“In many of these cities such as Denver, a diverse and vigorous economy attracted to the urban core has offered stable employment for residents.”，即在丹佛等许多18小时城市，吸引到市中心的多样且充满活力的经济为居民提供了稳定的就业，说明带来了更好的工作机会，所以选D。
