I have learnt of a plan to build three hundred houses on the land called Parson's Place by thefootball ground. Few people know about this new plan to increase the size of our town. For me,Parson's Place is special because it is a beautiful natural area where local people can relax - thesmall wood has many unusual trees and the stream is popular with fishermen and bird-watchers.1It's very quiet because there are few houses or roads nearby.I think that losing this area will beterrible because we have no other similar facilities in the neighbourhood.
I am also against this plan because it will cause traffic problems. How will the people from thenew houses travel to work7 The motorway and the railway station are on the other side of town.
Therefore, these people will have to drive through the town centre every time they go anywhere.
The roads will always be full of traffic, there will be nowhere to park and the tourists who come tosee our lovely old buildings will leave.2 Shops and hotels will lose business. If the town reallyneeds more homes, the empty ground beside the railway station is a more suitable place.
No doubt the builders will make a lot of money by selling these houses. But, in my opinion,the average person will quickly be made poorer by this plan. As well as this, we will lose a veryspecial place and our town will be much less pleasant.3I am going to the local govemment offices on Monday morning to protest about this plan and Ihope that your readers will join me there. We must make them stop this plan before it is too late.
注释：
1. For me, Parson's Place is special because it is a beautiful natural area where local people canrelax - the small wood has many unusual trees and the stream is popular with fishermen andbird-watchers.对我来说，帕森场是非常特别的，因为它是一个美丽的天然场地并且当地人可以在此放松休息。这片小树林里有许多独特的树木并且这里的小溪受到了渔夫和野鸟观察者的欢迎。
2. The roads will always be full of traffic, there will be nowhere to park and the tourists who cometo see our lovely old buildings will leave.公路上将总是有很多车辆，却没有地方停车，并且来参观我们这儿可爱的老式建筑物的观光者将会离开这里。
3. As well as this, we will lose a very special place and our town will be much less pleasant.不但如此，我们将失去一个非常特别的地方并且我们的城镇将会失去很多快乐。
练习：
1. Why has Alan written this letter?
A) To persuade the -government to build new houses.
B) To protest about a new mlotorway near the town.
C) To encourage more people in the town to use Parson's Place.
D) To inform other people about the builders' plans.
2. Why is Parson's Place particularly important, in Alan's opinion?
A) Because it is near the football ground.
B) Because lots of people live near it.
C) Because it is a place near the town where people can enjoy nature.
D) Because local people can get there easily by car from the town.
3. What will cause traffic jams?
A)A building on Parson's Place.
B) Building near the railway station.
C) Tourists in the narrow streets.
D) People going to the shops and hotels.
4. Alan says that ordinary people who live in the town will probably soon____.
A) open new shops and hotels
B) choose to live near the station .
C) be able to buy new homes
D) have less money
5. Which of these posters has Alan made?
A) SAVE OUR SPORTS GROUND
B) SAY NO TO HOUSES ON PARSON'S PLACE
C) WE NEED HOMES NOT HOTELS
D) USE THE TRAIN NOT THE ROAD
答案与题解：
1.D本题问的是：为什么Alan写这封信?A\B.C选项在文中没有提到，D选项的意思是让其他人了解建筑商的计划，因此D是正确答案。
2.C本题问的是：在Alan看来，为什么帕森场非常重要?第一段中提到“因为它是一个美丽的天然场地并且当地人可以在此放松休息”。因此C是正确答案。
3.A本题问的是：什么将会引起交通堵塞?第二段提到了，如果按照建筑商的计划，那么“公路上将总是有很多车辆，却没有地方来停车”。因此选择A。
4.D本题问的是：Alan说住在城镇的人们将来可能会，本文第三段提到“每个人将会因这个计划的实施而快速地变穷”。因此选择D。
5.B本题问的是：以下哪个是Alan制作的海报?Alan在本文中一直在说抵制建筑商在帕森场上建造房屋的计划，因此选择B，对帕森场上的房屋说不。
译文
第十篇 艾伦的来信
我听说了一个要在叫Parson公园上建造三百所房子的计划。没有几个人知道这个打算将我们的城镇扩大的计划。对我来说，Parson公园是非常特别的，因为它是一个美丽的天然公园，当地人可以在此放松休息。这片小树林里有许多独特的树木并且这里的小溪受到了渔夫和野鸟观察者的欢迎。这里很安静因为附近只有几所房子和几条公路。我认为失去这片公园会很糟糕，因为在这附近我们没有其他与其相似的公园了。
我反对这项计划也是因为它将会引起交通问题。住在新房子的人们将如何去工作呢?高速公路和地铁站在城镇的另一端。因此，这些人每次出行的时候将不得不驱车穿越城镇中心。
公路上将总是有很多车辆，没有地方停车，并且来参观我们这儿可爱的老式建筑物的观光者将会离开这里。商店和旅馆将赔钱。如果这个城镇真的需要更多的房子，那片在地铁站附近的空地是一个更合适的地方。
毫无疑问，通过出售这些房子建筑商们会赚很多钱。但是，在我看来，每个人将会因这个计划的实施而快速地变穷。不但如此，我们将失去一个非常特别的地方，并且我们的城镇将会失去很多快乐。
我将在周一早上到当地政府办公室*这项计划，并且我希望你们这些读者将会和我一起去那里。我们必须让他们停止这项计划，否则就来不及了。
