Double-decker Bus

A double-decker bus is a bus that has two levels. While double-decker long-distance buses are in widespread use around the world, 1 _______________________. Double-decker buses are popular in some European cities and in some parts of Asia, usually in former British colonies. Many towns around the world have a few that specialize in short sight-seeing tours for tourists because, as William Gladstone observed, " the way to see London is from the top of a 'bus'".

Double-decker buses are taller than other buses. They are extensively used in the United Kingdom, 2 _______________________, removed from normal service in December 2005 - they still operate on heritage routes. Elsewhere in Europe, double-deckers are used throughout the Dublin Bus network in Ireland, where they are making a comeback on Dublin's outer suburban routes and also the streets of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. They are a common sight in Berlin, where the BVG makes extensive use of them. Double-decker long-distance coaches are also in widespread use throughout Europe.

Most buses in Hong Kong and about half in Singapore are double-deckers as well. The only areas in North America that 3 _______________________ are the western Canadian province of British Columbia and the United States city of Las Vegas. They are currently being tested in Ottawa on the express routes. The city of Davis, California, in the United States uses vintage double-decker buses for public transport. Davis, California is also home to the first vintage double-decker bus converted from diesel gasoline to run on CNG. The city of Victoria, BC, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and a couple of others use Dennis Tridents. A few are also used as tour buses, especially in New York. Double-deckers are have also been used in Mumbai since 1937.

In Brazil, 4 _______________________, some companies use double-decker buses. Double-deckers are not a good option for use outside the towns (most roads in Brazil are in very poor condition), and 5 _______________________.

Double-decker buses are in widespread use in India in many of the major cities. Some double-decker buses 6 _______________________, with no roof and shallow sides. These are popular for sightseeing tours.

A. double-deckers are adored by thousands of tourists

B. use double-decker buses for public transport

C. double-decker city buses are less common

D. where perhaps the most famous was the London Routemaster

E. their use is being discouraged by transportation authorities

F. have an open upper deck

G. where buses are sometimes the only interstate transport

ABBY’S TIDY DRAWER

One Saturday morning, Abby’s Mum came upstairs to see Abby in her bedroom. There was a big mess on the floor and Abby sat in the middle of it all reading a book.

“What a mess, ” Mum said. “You need to have a clear up in here. Because things get broken or lost when they’re all willy-nilly like this. Come on, have a tidy up now.”

“But I’m very busy, ” Abby argued, “and it’s boring doing it on my own. Can’t you help me? ”

“No I can’t, I’m busy too. But I’ll give you extra pocket money if you do a good job.”

When Mum came back later all the toys and clothes and books had disappeared.

“I’m impressed, ” said Mum. “But I’ll inspect it properly later.”

“It was easy, ” said Abby. “Can I have my extra pocket money now? ”

“All right. Get it out of my change purse. It’s in the kitchen tidy drawer.”

In the kitchen, Abby went over to the dresser and pulled open the tidy drawer. She hunted for the purse.

“It must be somewhere at the bottom, ” Mum said. “Let’s have a proper look.”

She pulled the drawer out and carried it over to the table. Abby looked inside. There were lots of boring things like staplers and string, but there were lots of interesting things as well.

“What’s this? ” Abby asked, holding up a plastic bottle full of red liquid.

“Fake blood, from a Halloween party years ago. Your Dad and I took you to that, dressed up as a baby vampire. You were really scary.”

Abby carried on looking through the drawer. She found some vampire teeth, white face paint, plastic witch nails and hair gel. Mum pulled out a glittery hair band. It had springs with wobbly balls on the top that flashed disco colours! Abby found some sparkly hair elastics to match the hair band. She made her Mum put lots of little bunches all over her head so she looked really silly.

“I remember this, ” Abby said as she pulled out a plastic bag. “This is from my pirate party.” Inside there was a black, false moustache and some big gold earrings.

“Come here, ” Mum said and smeared white face paint all over Abby’s face. She dribbled the fake blood so it looked as if it was coming out of Abby’s eyes and mouth. She put gel all over Abby’s hair and made it stand up into weird, pointy shapes. Abby put in the vampire teeth and slipped on the witch fingers. She made scary noises at Wow-Wow, the cat. He ignored her and carried on washing himself on the seat next to her.

Abby came to sit on her Mum’s knee.

“It’s fun doing this together, ” she said.

“Maybe. But we still haven’t found the change purse.”

“Well, you know things will get lost, or broken, when they’re all willy-nilly.”

“You cheeky monkey! ” Mum laughed. “But what shall I do with it all? ”

“I know, it’s easy, ” Abby said and began to remove everything off the table into her arms. She put it all back in the kitchen drawer.

Mum looked at her suspiciously.

“Let’s go and inspect your bedroom, shall we? ”

Abby followed her upstairs and into her bedroom. Wow-Wow was sitting in front of her fish tank looking hungrily at the goldfish. He dashed under the bed when he saw Mum and Abby. Mum kneeled down and lifted the bed cover to get him out. Underneath were heaps of Abby’s toys, books, tapes, clothes and shoes, empty plastic cups, wrappers and a half-eaten sandwich on a plate.

“Abby! What’s all this? ”

“It’s my tidy drawer, ” Abby said. She wrapped her arms around her Mum and gave her a kiss. “Let’s sort this one out together now.”

1. When Mum came to Abby’s room she saw

A) her daughter reading at her table.

B) the cat looking at the fish.

C) a terrible mess all over the place.

D) Abby dressed up as a vampire.