High-speed Rail on Track

　　If an agreement signed in a Germany works out, travelers of this Asian city may one day be able to zip from the downtown area to its new airport on a train riding a stream of magnetic energy at speeds up to 500 kilometres per hour.

　　The 40-kilometers-trip ---now sometimes a long hour journey when the traffic is heavy-could be cut to less than 10 minutes.

　　Such are the goals of a costly project designed to help to "shorten" the distance between the city center and the suburban busy airport by making it easier and faster to carry travelers to and back from the airport.

　　The mayor of the city and Germany's Thyssen Krupp AG worked out an agreement in Berlin only several days ago that lays the groundwork for the magnetic levitation train line. They signed a commitment to carry out a feasibility study on the project and outlined the city's intention to import German technology. The project, once completed and acceptable to the two business parties, will be a double-win: the German company can benefit from exporting its technology and the city receiving German technology can improve its traffic and further strengthen its position as a cosmopolis.

　　Called Maglev for short, the system under discussion makes use of a high-speed train levitated above a guideway and propelled by magnetic fields. The project has been in the talking stage for several months.

　　Hans Ueberschaer, German's ambassador visited the city together with Harmut Heine, representative of Thyssen Krupp. They had an initial discussion with the mayor there about the prospect of the project. The talks were believed to be constructive and paved the way for the future talks in Berlin, where a commitment was reached.

　　Sources familiar with the talks estimated that the project would cost US$723 million, which would cover everything from land use fees and rail construction to train cars. Completion date is 2005. A joint venture company is to be established for the project.

　　EXERCISE:

　　1. Who paved the way for further negotiations in Berlin?

　　A) The mayor

　　B) Both the German ambassador and the mayor.

　　C) The German ambassador.

　　D) The representative from the German company.

　　2. What was the signed commitment mainly about?

　　A) Finalizing the payment of US$723 million.

　　B) Establishing a joint venture company.

　　C) Conducting a feasibility study.

　　D) Outlining the German company's intention to export its technology.

　　3. What is the main feature of Maglev?

　　A) The Maglev train "floats" above the guideway and zip to its destination.

　　B) The Maglev train zips to its destination on the railway.

　　C) The Maglev train zips to its destination on a double guideway.

　　D) The Maglev train can carry more passengers than the electric train.

　　4. How large will be the success rate of the agreement signed by the two business parties according to the passage?

　　A) It is very likely that the city will have a German-built Maglev line.

　　B) It is very likely that Krupp will ban the export of its technology.

　　C) It is very likely that the city cannot afford the high payment.

　　D) It is very likely that the city will turn to buy US technology.

　　5. What type of writing do you think this passage belongs to?

　　A) An article on popular science.

　　B) An article taken from a transportation book.

　　C) A commercial contract.

　　D) A news report.

　　KEY: B C A A D

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