Ⅰ. Readings
Reading 1 Events Industry Now a Staple of
Zhuhai Economy
Directions： There is one passage in this reading followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice.
The rapid innovative development of Zhuhai’s exhibition and convention industry led to a gross economic gain of 13.4 billion yuan ($1.9 billion) in 2016. This accounts for 6.02 percent of the city’s GDP, according to a development report recently released by the Convention & Expo Bureau.
The exhibition industry developed steadily in 2016 with economic returns exceeding 10.47 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). A total of 3,831 exhibitors attracted 933,700 visitors at 32 exhibitions in 2016, covering more than 811,400 sq.m., with 391,400 sq.m. of indoor areas and 420,000 sq.m. outdoors.
Zhuhai initially shaped a series of brand exhibitions assembling products of sea, land, and air led by Airshow China1. This is supported by RemaxWorld Expo2, China (Zhuhai) International Boat Show, Green Power Expo China, and International UAV Expo. It is designed to further enhance Zhuhai’s brand strength and comprehensive influence in the Pearl River Delta Economic Circle3.
The convention industry became a new highlight with rapid growth in both quality and scale last year. Economic returns reached 2.94 billion yuan ($426 million). This was accomplished via the organization of 2,982 large-scale conferences, which is 1,554 more than 2015 with year-on-year growth of 108.8 percent. The conference participants reached 475,000 in number, increasing by 25.2 percent over the year before. Relying on the favorable urban environment and advanced hardware facilities, the number of ultra-large conferences with 10,000 attendees or above doubled to six.
In the meantime, the city’s large-scale convention organizing capacity showed obvious enhancement. Annual meetings of world top 500 multinational enterprises such as Wal-Mart, AstraZeneca4, Volkswagen5, and BMW were all held here, marking Zhuhai’s increasingly remarkable advantage as a convention city.
Zhuhai’s convention and exhibition industry is expected to usher in a new development opportunity this year with the near completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and acceleration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The report points out that innovation-driven and opening-guided strategies will be implemented to strengthen cooperation with cities of the Greater Bay Area and develop Zhuhai into a convention destination with high-end professional exhibitions led by Airshow China.
Exercise
1. What’s the main idea of this passage?
A） The city’s large-scale convention organizing capacity showed obvious enhancement.
B） Innovation-driven and opening-guided strategies will be implemented to strengthen cooperation with cities of the Greater Bay Area.
C） Zhuhai’s convention and exhibition industry is expected to usher in a new development opportunity this year.
D） The event industry has become a pillar of Zhuhai’s economy.
2. What was the GDP of Zhuhai in 2016?
A） About 13.4 billion yuan. B） About 10.47 billion yuan.
C） About 222.6 billion yuan. D） About 2.94 billion yuan.
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “highlight” in Para. 4?
A） High spot. B） High point.
C） High part. D） High level.
4. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A） The exhibition industry increased rapidly last year as a total of 3，831 exhibitors attracted 933，700 visitors at 32 exhibitions.
B） Airshow China is designed to further enhance Zhuhai’s brand strength and comprehensive influence in the Pearl River Delta Economic Circle.
C） Zhuhai’s large-scale convention organizing capacity should obviously be enhanced.
D） Zhuhai’s convention and exhibition industry ushered in a new development opportunity this year.
5. What is Zhuhai’s attitude towards the convention industry?
A） Doubtful. B） Critical.
C） Cautious. D） Supportive.
Glossary
1. acceleration: /əkˌseləˈreɪʃn/ n. a process in which something happens more and more quickly 加速；加快
2. convention: /kənˈvenʃn/ n. a meeting or formal assembly, as of representatives or delegates, for discussion of and action on particular matters of common concern 大会；集会
3. implement: /ˈɪmplɪment/ v. to make sth. that has been officially decided start to happen or be used 执行；实施
4. usher: /ˈʌʃə(r)/ v. to take or show sb. where they should go 把……引往
Culture Notes
1. Airshow China 中国航展
China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) is the only international aerospace trade show approved by the Chinese central government, with support from Chinese aerospace industries. Featuring the display of actual products, trade talks, technological exchange and flying display, the show takes place biennially in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. Since 1996, Airshow China has successfully taken place for 14 sessions in a row.
2. RemaxWorld Expo 中国（珠海）国际打印耗材展览会
RemaxWorld is regarded as the world’s largest trade show for home and office printers, copiers and supplies. The event has been held annually since 2007 in the print supplies capital of the world, Zhuhai, China, providing global buyers and suppliers with an international, networking and cooperation platform.
3. The Pearl River Delta Economic Circle 珠三角经济圈
The Pearl River Delta (PRD) Economic Circle is one of China’s leading economic regions and a major manufacturing center. It locates at the Pearl River estuary where the river enters the South China Sea. The zone is formed by 9 cities, namely Guangzhou (the provincial capital), Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing.
4. AstraZeneca 阿斯利康制造药公司
AstraZeneca is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by 2012 prescription drug sales and has operations in over 100 countries. AstraZeneca has a portfolio of products for major disease areas including cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation. The company was founded in 1999 through the merger of the Sweden-based Astra AB and the UK-based Zeneca Group. AstraZeneca has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It had a market capitalisation of approximately £54.8 billion as of 1 August 2014, the sixth largest of any company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange. It has secondary listings on the New York Stock Exchange and the OMX exchange.
5. Volkswagen 大众汽车
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1937, Volkswagen is the top-selling and namesake marque of the Volkswagen Group, the holding company created in 1975 for the growing company, and is now the biggest automaker in both Germany and Europe. Volkswagen means “people’s car” in German.
Reading 2 Tang Tingshu1 
Directions： In this reading, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
After the First Opium War in 1840, China, previously a huge feudal empire, was gradually reduced to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal country. During the 110 years from 1840 to 1949, the country, though torn by war and unrest, witnessed the bloom of a number of (1) entrepreneurs who had unprecedented influence on the country’s social economy and politics.
During this unusual historical period, industry and commerce were no longer (2) as in the past. Most of these merchants not only (3) the opportunities to build their business empires, but took on social responsibilities as well. As the edge-cutting pioneers and founders of China’s national industry, their influences are still greatly felt today.
Tang Tingshu (1832-1892), also known as Tong King-sing, was a famous Chinese industrialist during the late Qing Dynasty. As an active participant in the (4) sponsored commercial projects at that time, he made great contributions to the country’s economic development. From 1873 to 1884, Tang served as the general manager of China Merchants’ Steam Navigation Company in Shanghai, an enterprise managed by merchants under official (5) . With his professional experience built up during the past years, acting as an interpreter and comprador for ten years (6) , Tang immediately became the right-arm of founder Li Hongzhang in raising capital for the company and expanding the country’s modern shipping industry.(https://www.daowen.com)
He (7) the arduous development of the Kaiping Coalmine2 in Hebei Province, and worked there since 1885 until his death. The coalmine, the earliest large-scale mine using machine (8) in north China, reported the highest (9) output nationwide at the end of the 19th century. He then promoted the building of the Kaiping Tramway, the first of its kind in China. He is also remembered for creating the first cement manufacturing (10) in modern China, the first insurance company run by Chinese businessmen, and the first hospital in Shanghai.
Glossary
1. arduous: /ˈɑːdjuəs/ adj. involving a lot of effort and energy, especially over a period of time 艰难的
2. comprador: /ˌkɒmprəˈdɔ:/ n. a native agent or factotum, as of a foreign business house 买办
3. entrepreneur: /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː (r)/ n. a person who makes money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves taking financial risks 企业家
4. feudal: /ˈfjuːdl/ adj. connected with or similar to feudalism 封建（制度）的
Culture Notes
1. Tang Tingshu 唐廷枢
Tong King-sing (1832-1892), also known as Tang Tingshu, was a Chinese comprador, interpreter, and businessman during the late Qing Dynasty. Tong King-sing was born in today’s Tangjiawan Town, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province in 1832. He went to Hong Kong at age 10 with his father and studied at the Robert Morrison’s missionary schools. Six years later, he served the Hong Kong colonial government as a translator and he was sent to China Customs Shanghai to be the chief translator when he was 20.
2. Kaiping Coalmine 开平矿务局
Kaiping Coalmine was located in the south-west of Kaiping Township, Luan County, Tangshan in Hebei Province. It was the first modern corporate enterprise in Chinese history. Due to its abundant reserves, excellent coal quality, and abundant profits, Kaiping Coalmine had always been coveted by foreign invaders. During the Gengzi Incident, Kaiping Coalmine was fraudulently occupied by British merchants.
Reading 3 Gaolan Port1 
Directions： In this reading, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter.
A) To the west of Jitimen waterway, the Zhuhai Gaolan Port comprehensive bonded zone2 (hereinafter referred to as “the Gaolan Port comprehensive bonded zone”) is established in accordance with the port, and is expected to be closed and accepted in the third quarter of this year. With high-end manufacturing as the core and bonded logistics as the support, the closure and operation of the Gaolan Port comprehensive bonded zone will effectively promote the development of Zhuhai’s export-oriented economy and pillar industries. Under the policy superposition of the national economic and technological development zone, the comprehensive bonded zone and the cross-border e-commerce comprehensive experimental zone, the comprehensive bonded zone will seize the wind and develop in a coordinated way.
B) According to the Plan, by 2025, the import and export trade volume of the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone will exceed 5 billion yuan, and in accordance with the promotion rhythm of “image in one year, system in three years and benchmarking in five years”, it will gradually move forward to the long-term goal of total import and export exceeding 100 billion yuan.
Welcome the first comprehensive protection zone at the end of the decade
C) At the southwest end of Zhuhai, there are large ships coming and going in an orderly way, with cargo lifting, loading and unloading, and the port of 100 million tons is busy. As the main coastal hub port and the only deep-water port on the West Bank of the Pearl River Estuary, Gaolan Port has become an important gateway to the world for the Xijiang River and the South China Sea.
D) Now, not far from the port, a new area is about to appear—Zhuhai Gaolan Port comprehensive bonded zone. The comprehensive bonded zone is a special open area with the highest level of opening, the most preferential policies, the most complete functions and the most simplified procedures except the free trade zone. It is also a pilot area for the state to open up the fields of finance, trade, investment, service and transportation. As a special supervision area of the customs, the comprehensive bonded area is set up within the territory and is under closed management. The policy of customs, the bonded zone and the export zone can be implemented. As of May 2022, there are 168 special customs supervision areas in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. Among them, there are 156 comprehensive bonded zones.
E) Since the “opinions of the State Council on promoting the high-level opening and high-quality development of comprehensive bonded areas” was released in early 2019, the number of comprehensive bonded zones in Guangdong Province has increased from 2 to 11, and the import and export value has increased from 91,246 million yuan in 2018 to 524.719 billion yuan in 2021. The scale is expanding, the functions are more diversified, and new business forms and models are booming.
F) According to the statistics of Guangdong Branch of the General Administration of customs, in the first quarter of this year, the import and export value of the comprehensive bonded zone in Guangdong Province reached 137.899 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 34.8%, accounting for 7.5% of the total value of Guangdong Province’s import and export, which has become a major bright spot of Guangdong’s steady progress in foreign trade. Among them, exports reached 62.918 billion yuan, up 28.5% year on year; Imports reached 74.981 billion yuan, up 40.5% year on year.
G) In fact, Zhuhai is no stranger to the concepts of “bonded” and “special customs supervision”. At present, Zhuhai has three special customs supervision zones: Zhuhai Free Trade Zone, the Zhuhai Macao cross-border industrial zone and the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone. As early as 1996, the Zhuhai free trade zone with a planning area of 3 square kilometers was established. In 2003, in order to strengthen the economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, and maintain Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability, the Zhuhai Macao cross-border industrial zone, as the only cross-border industrial zone in China, was officially established.
H) In 2012 and 2015, the State Council issued two documents successively, proposing “gradually integrating the existing export processing zone, bonded logistics parks, cross-border industrial zone Zhuhai Park, bonded port areas and qualified bonded zones into comprehensive bonded zones”; In 2019, another paper was issued to propose that “we should continue to promote the integration and upgrading of special customs supervision areas, and promote the optimization of all types of special customs supervision areas that meet the requirements into comprehensive bonded zones”.
I) In recent years, the Zhuhai customs special supervision area is also facing the problem of integration and optimization. Zhuhai, which has a large port, a coastal industrial cluster, and a special customs supervision area with more complete functions and can make full use of the port conditions to realize the convenient distribution of import and export logistics, is in front of us.
J) Therefore, the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone came into being. But the process of its coming into being was rather tortuous. In 2009, Gaolan Port applied for the establishment of a bonded port area; Under the background of upgrading the special customs supervision areas in China, the application of Gaolan Port was also adjusted to establish a comprehensive bonded zone in 2012. In 2018, the comprehensive protection zone of Gaolan Port was approved and construction began in 2019.
Play a good role in “combination” and make full use of the advantages of superimposed policies
K) As a more open platform, the comprehensive bonded zone has significant new competitive advantages in improving policies, expanding functions, innovating supervision, cultivating industrial supporting facilities, and optimizing business environments. It can meet the needs of enterprises’ future development for policy and system innovation at a higher level. In the future, the innovation of customs special supervision zone will also focus on the implementation of the comprehensive bonded zone.
L) Today, the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone is only one foot away from the closure operation. What Zhuhai can expect from its operation? According to Lin Jiang, Professor of Economics Department of Lingnan College of Sun Yatsen University and deputy director of Hong Kong, Macao and Pearl River Delta Research Center, the development of the comprehensive bonded zone must highlight the word “combination”, comprehensively use and make full use of policies, so as to form a strong joint force and superimposed advantages.
M) “As a newly established comprehensive protection zone, the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone needs to consider more than the repetition of single function experience, expand to diversified and strategic emerging industries, and explore its own development path in the forefront of opening up and cooperation.” Lin Jiang said that the applicable policies of the comprehensive protection zone have given it more freedom to play, which is of great help to Zhuhai’s expansion of foreign economic and trade relations, the development of export-oriented economy, and the expansion of Zhuhai’s influence on opening up and international cooperation in the whole urban agglomeration of Dawan district.
N) For example, biomedicine and health is one of the four leading industries in Zhuhai. “This is an area that stands at the forefront of the world and has greater demand for international exchanges and cooperation. The Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone can provide necessary platform space for it and reduce its operating costs.” For example, Lin Jiang said that if the import approval process of pharmaceutical raw materials is complicated, a large number of links can be reduced if the comprehensive insurance zone policy is used. Equipment for testing, such as high-end medical devices, can be directly transported from abroad to the comprehensive insurance zone without involving the problem of entry and customs clearance, which is very attractive to this industry. From this perspective, the comprehensive insurance zone can provide enterprises with a platform with lower trial and error costs and better expected control effect, so that enterprises can go to battle with light equipment.
O) When referring to the logistics function role of the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone, Lin Jiang thinks that Zhuhai is a “double port” city with “airport” and “seaport”, and has the conditions of sea-land-air transport. “The establishment of Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone has opened up imagination space for Zhuhai to expand freight logistics.” Lin Jiang said that at present, the overall volume of Zhuhai’s manufacturing industry and the total population are not high, so good service may be the key to go through logistics. “In particular, we should consider radiating the logistics and freight services, and strive to become an important node city of freight transit and assembly transportation between western Guangdong, Guangxi, even Hainan, etc., which connect with Dawan district.” Lin Jiang believes that if the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone can play an important role in the sea-land-air transport, and effectively connect the Gaolan Port, Zhuhai airport and the comprehensive protection zone, the logistics hub status of Zhuhai will be greatly improved.
Exercise
1. As a special supervision area of the customs, the comprehensive bonded area is set up within the territory and is under closed management.
2. The Zhuhai customs special supervision area is also facing the problem of integration and optimization in recent years.
3. The comprehensive bonded zone can meet the needs of enterprises’ future development for policy and system innovation at a higher level.
4. The Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone needs to explore its own development path in the forefront of opening up and cooperation.
5. Gaolan Port has become an important gateway to the world for the Xijiang River and the South China Sea.
6. The number of comprehensive bonded zones in Guangdong Province has increased from 2 to 11.
7. Equipment for testing, such as high-end medical devices, can be directly transported from abroad to the comprehensive insurance zone without involving the problem of entry and customs clearance.
8. The establishment of the Gaolan Port comprehensive protection zone has opened up imagination space for Zhuhai to expand freight logistics.
9. Nowadays, the Gaolan Port Comprehensive Protection Zone is only one foot away from the lockdown operation.
10. In fact, Zhuhai is not unfamiliar with the concepts of “bonded” and “special customs supervision”.
Glossary
1. autonomous: /ɔːˈtɒnəməs / adj. self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only pertaining to an autonomy, or a self-governing community 自治的
2. cluster: /ˈklʌstə(r) / n. a group of similar things that are close together, sometimes surrounding something 团；群；簇
3. logistics: /ləˈdʒɪstɪks/ n. the planning, implementation, and coordination of the details of a business or other operation 物流
4. municipality: /mjuːnɪsɪˈpæləti / n. a city, town, or other district possessing corporate existence and usually its own local government 自治市
5. pharmaceutical: /ˌfɑːməˈsuːtɪkəl/ adj. (only before nouns） connected with making and selling drugs and medicines 制药的；配药的
Culture Notes
1. Gaolan Port 高栏港
A South China hub port situated in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, 83 km (52 miles) from Hong Kong, 42 km (26 miles) from Macao, 150 km (93 miles) from Guangzhou, and 180 km (112 miles) from Shenzhen.
2. comprehensive bonded zone 综合保税区
A comprehensive bonded zone is a special Customs supervision area established by the Chinese government with reference to the free trade zones (parks) that are commonly used internationally. In addition to an abundance of preferential policies for foreign trade and comprehensive functions, the CBZ is also proficient in developing bonded processing, logistics and services, and other businesses.