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If you boss asks you to work in Moscow this year, he'd better offer you more money to do so-or even
double that depending on where you live now. That's because Moscow has just been found to be the world's
most expensive city for the second year in a row by Mercer Human Resources Consulting.
Using the cost of living in New York as a base, Mercer determined Moscow is 34.4 percent more expensive
including the cost of housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment (娱乐).
A two-bedroom flat in Moscow now costs $4,000 a month; a CD $24.83, and an international newspaper
$6.30, according to Mercer. By comparison, a fast food meal with a hamburger (汉堡包) is a steal at $4.80.
London takes the No.2 place, up from No.5 a year ago, thanks to higher cost of housing and a stronger
British pound relative to the dollar. Mercer estimates (估算) London is 26 percent more expensive than New
York these days. Following London closely are Seoul and Tokyo, both of which are 22 percent more expensive
than New York, while No.5 Hong Kong is 19 percent more costly.
Among North American cities, New York and Los Angeles are the most expensive and are the only two
listed in the top 50 of the world's most expensive cities. But both have fallen since last year's study-New York
came in 15th, down from 10th place, while Los Angeles fell to 42nd from 29th place a year ago. San Francisco
came in a distant third at No. 54, down 20 places from a year earlier.
Toronto, meanwhile, is Canada's most expensive city but fell 35 places to take 82nd place worldwide. In
Australia, Sydney is the priciest place to live in and No. 21 worldwide.
1. What do the underlined words "a steal" in Paragraph 3 mean?
A. an act of stealing
B. something delicious
C. something very cheap
D. an act of buying
2. London has become the second most expensive city because of _____.
A. the high cost of clothing
B. the stronger pound against the dollar
C. its expensive transportation
D. the high prices of fast food meals
3. Which city is the third most expensive on the list?
A. Tokyo.
B. Hong Kong.
C. Moscow.
D. Sydney.
4. Which city has dropped most on the list in North America?
A. New York.
B. Los Angeles.
C. San Francisco.
D. Toronto.
