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Gaochun County, a picturesque county in east China's Jiangsu Province, was expected to be named the first "slow city" in China in November this year.
The arrival of Pier Giorgio Oliveti, chairman of the World Slow City Union, raised the idea of a slow
city, which has become popular all over the world. In Shanghai, Oliveti said that the slow city movement
was founded in his hometown of Italy in October of 1999. "Italy is the birthplace of slow food, which
emphasizes nutrition, flavor and taste," he said.
Oliveti said the idea of a slow city has also expanded constantly during its development, which has led
to some special requirements today. For instance, the slow city always emphasizes a small town and its
residents, keeps a unique identity, characteristics and keeps the natural state of the town. It adopts
technology without losing traditional customs and offers to provide a clean environment, a fair deal and
healthy food for all. In addition, the slow city has to be eco-friendly with a population of no more than
50,000, and it must be deeply devoted to protecting and keeping the purity of the natural environment as
well as greatly promoting and carrying out sustainable (可持续的) development technologies.
The ecological tour of Gaochun County includes an area of about 49 square kilometers with around
20,000 residents. It has a lot of tea, bamboo fruits, herbs (草本植物) and other green food ecological
bases as well as rich folk culture resources.
There are now 135 slow cities in 24 countries across the world that have been named since the
founding of the organization in 1999.
1. To qualify to be called a slow city, a city must .
a. have less and low-speed traffic
b. be environmentally friendly
c. keep the natural state of the town
d. stop the traditional ways of doing things
e. have a population within 50, 000
A. a, b and d.
B. a, b and c.
C. b, c and e.
D. c, d and e.
2. We can conclude that slow city movement aims to .
A. protect the environment of local schools
B. control the population of big cities
C. give people more time to travel
D. improve quality of life
3. Which of the following is NOT true about the slow city movement?
A. The slow city movement was started in Italy.
B. "Slow city" is a movement to eat slowly in Italian cities.
C. The slow city movement has a long history of over 20 years.
D. Only some cities can be considered slow ones
4. The slow city movement implies that .
A. people wish to live a traditional life
B. people begin to think about the negative effects of city development
C. people are tired of living in urban areas due to great pressure
D. people need to try a new adventurous style of life
5. Which of the following is probably the best title of the passage?
A. The first slow city in China
B. Slow cities in the world
C. Slow cities and the slow city movement
D. How can we make our city a slow city?
