六级(2021/6-1) Text2

Nicola Sturgeon’s speech last Tuesday setting out the Scottish government’s legislative programme for the year ahead confirmed what was already pretty clear. Scottish councils are set to be the first in the UK with the power to levy charges费用 on visitors, with Edinburgh likely to lead the way.

51. What do we learn from Nicola Sturgeon’s speech?

A) The UK is set to adjust its policy on taxation.             the Scottish government

B) Tourists will have to pay a tax to visit Scotland.

C) The UK will take new measures to boost tourism.

D) Edinburgh contributes most to Scotland’s tourism.

set to do sth 开始做某事

for the year ahead   未来一年

councils  地方议会,委员会

with the power to levy charges费用 on visitors,with Edinburgh likely to lead the way.   

with + n. + to do  

Tourist taxes are not new. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has a longstanding长期间的 policy of chaining visitors a daily fee. France’s tax on overnight stays过夜住宿 was introduced推行，实施 to assist thermal spa (温泉) towns to develop, and around half of French local authorities use it today.

thermal spa 温泉

thermal  热的;热量的;保暖的;防寒的

But such levies are on the rise. Moves举措 by Barcelona and Venice to deal with the phenomenon of “over-tourism” through the use of charges have recently gained prominence重要;突出;卓越;出名. Japan and Greece are among the countries to have recently introduced tourist taxes.

That the UK lags behind is due to our  weak, by international standards按照国际标准, local government, as well as the opposition to taxes and regul  ation of our aggressively积极地 pro-market ruling party. Some UK cities have lobbied without success for the power to levy a charge on visitors. Such levies are no universal remedy广泛适用的解决办法 as the amounts raised would be tiny compared with what has been taken away征收走 by central government since 2010. Still然而，但是;尽管如此, it is to be hoped that the Scottish government’s bold move will prompt促使 others to act. There is no reason why visitors to the UK, or domestic tourists on holiday在度假 in hotspots热点地区 such as Cornwall, should be exempt from免除 taxation—particularly when vital local services including waste collection, park maintenance维护 and arts and culture spending are under unprecedented strain.

is due to 由于

pro-market 亲市场的

ruling party 执政党

That the UK lags behind is due to our weak, by international standards, local government, as well as the opposition to taxes and regulation of our aggressively pro-market ruling party.

==That the UK lags behind is due to our weak local government as well as ruling party.

as the amounts raised would be tiny compared with what has been taken away by central government since 2010

==  the amounts raised would be tiny compared with what has been taken away

52. How come the UK has been slow in imposing the tourist tax?

A) Its government wants to attract more tourists.

B) The tax is unlikely to add much to its revenue.

C) Its ruling party is opposed to taxes and regulation.

D) It takes time for local governments to reach consensus.

53. Both international and domestic visitors in the UK should pay tourist tax so as to以便，为使_____.

A) elevate its tourism to international standards

B) improve the welfare of its maintenance workers

C) promote its cultural exchange with other nations

D) ease its financial burden of providing local services

On the contrary, compelling tourists to make a financial contribution to the places they beyond their personal consumption should be part of a wider cultural shift. Westerners with disposable incomes have often behaved as if they have a right to go wherever they choose with little regard for the consequences. Just as the environmental harm caused by aviation航空 and other transport must come under far greater scrutiny审查, the social cost of tourism must also be confronted面对. This includes the impact of short-term lets on housing costs and quality of life for residents. Several European capitals, including Paris and Berlin, are leading a campaign for tougher regulation by the European Union. It also includes the impact of overcrowding, litter and the kinds of behaviour associated with noisy parties. 

come under  

 

short-term lets   

 

54. What does the author say about Western tourists?

A) They don’t seem to care about the social cost of tourism.

B) They don’t seem to mind paying fbr additional services.

C) They deem认为 travel an important part of their life.

D) They subject the effects of tourism to scrutiny.

There is no “one-size-fits-all 通用的;一体适用的” solution to this problem. The existence of new revenue streams溪流 for some but not all councils理事会 is complicated, and businesses are often opposed, fearing higher costs will make them uncompetitive. But those places that want them must be given the chance to make tourist taxes work.

55. What are UK people’s opinions about the levy of tourist tax?

A) Supportive.C) Skeptical.

B) Divided.D) Unclear.

those places that want them must be given the chance to make tourist taxes work.

=those places that want them must be given the chance