Doha, the capital of Qatar,is a city of contrasts(对照). In a few decades it has beentransformed from a small port to an international city. Today, its skyline is shaped by rising skyscrapers, but Old Doha---though fast disappearing---can still be found.
Time seems to stand still in the old quarter of the city. On the dusty streets, Indian and Pakistani men sit cross-legged outside tea shops and restaurants. At one end of the road, men queue by the doorways of crowded supermarkets to buy necessities: boxes of teabags, milk, sugar, bread and soap. The shops are dark and poorly stocked. However, only five miles away, on the other side of the city, Doha shows a completely different image. It shines brilliantly with skyscrapers, five-star hotels and noble apartment buildings. The area looks like any other modem district in the world.
Qatar, a tiny gulf(海湾)nation, is a country of vast local and international ambitions. At home, it has owned several international universities. Abroad, it tries to speak louder on gulf affairs. These ambitions are urged by the country’s unbelievably rich reserves of fossil fuels.In December 2012, Daba was the site of Copl8 UN Climate Change Conference and in 2022,Qatar will host the World Cup.
Mohammed Salim, 55, runs a hair salon in the old part of the city where he works as a hair
dresser.When he came to Doha 22 years ago from Pakistan,he recalls,Doha was a quiet town with few modern buildings.“At that time,Doha seemed rather small.There were no big roads or malls at all.” He has noticed a drop in customers to his salon in recent years.“People now tend to go to more fashionable hair salons in shopping malls.Some day this old area will be gone, and my business will probably be gone, too.I'll be sad. I love here, but things are changing.We can’t ignore it.”What makes Doha become a city of contrasts according to the passage?
A.The city’s old and modern districts. |
B.The modern city and the tiny country. |
C.The city’s past and present conditions. |
D.The fashionable city and its poor citizens. |
What do we know about the shops in the old quarter of Doha?
A.They don't have many goods or customers. |
B.They provide a great variety of luxury goods. |
C.They are bright big shops crowded with people. |
D.They look poor and offer fewer choices of goods. |
Qatar tries to speak louder on gulf affairs because______________.
A it has international cities such as Doha
B.it is going to host the World Cup in 2022
C.it has made progress in building universities
D.it is known for its large reserves of natural gasThe author takes the hair salon as an example to show that___________.
A.people in Doha are fashionable |
B.the economy in Doha becomes bad |
C.changes are happening to Old Doha |
D.Doha used to be an undeveloped town |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Old Doha is characterized by rising skyscrapers. |
B.Doha seemed small in the past as is recalled by Salim. |
C.Doha will host Copl8 UN Climate Change Conference in 2022. |
D.The western side of Doha looks more modern than the eastern side. |