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The first-ever freight(货运) train from Britain to China, loaded with whisky, soft drinks and baby products, started its first journey along the modern Silk Road trade route on April 12.

The 32-container train, around 600 meters long, left from the huge London Gateway container port on the River Thames mouth, to Yiwu on the Chinese east coast. It was seen off on its 18-day, 12,000-kilometer journey with music, British and Chinese flags, and speeches voicing hope that it will bring a new golden age of trade between the two countries.

The first train from China to Britain arrived on January 18, filled with clothes and other retail goods. Yesterday’s departure was the first journey in the other direction. The rail route is cheaper than air freight and faster than sea freight, offering logistics(物流) companies a new middle choice.

The driver gave a thumbs-up and pushed his horn as he got the train leaving at the port in Stanford-le-Hope, east of London. The train will go through the Channel Tunnel before traveling across France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before heading into China.

“We are proud to be able to offer the first-ever UK-to-China export train,” said Feng Xubin, chairman of Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment. “Restoring the ancient Silk Road by which can exchange goods is an important and exciting thing. This is the first export train and just the start of a regular direct service between the UK and China.”

1.Where did the train start its journey?

A Britain.

B China.

C France.

D Belgium.

解析：选A。细节理解题。根据第一段第一句The first-ever freight train from Britain to China...可知这列火车是从英国出发到中国的，故选A。

2.When did the first train from the other direction arrived?

A On January 1.

B On January 18.

C On April 12.

D On April 30.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第三段第一句The first train from China to Britain arrived on January 18…可知从中国到英国的第一列火车是1月18日到达的，故选B。

3.What’s the advantage of the rail route?

A It’s cheaper than air freight.

B It’s safer than other freights.

C It’s faster than sea freight.

D Both A and C.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第三段最后两句The rail route is cheaper than air freight and faster than sea freight, offering logistics companies a new middle choice.可知火车运输的优点是比海运快，比空运便宜，故选D。

4.How many countries will the train go across?

A 7.

B 8.

C 9.

D 10.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句The train will go through the Channel Tunnel before traveling across France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before heading into China. 可知该列车除中英之外还要经过七个国家，总共会经过九个国家，故选C。

5.What is the significance of the train?

A It can bring China cheap whisky and baby products.

B It’s the restore of the ancient Silk Road.

C It’s a third choice for the logistics companies.

D It’s the start of a regular direct service between the UK and China.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句This is the first export train and just the start of a regular direct service between the UK and China.可知中英班列的意义在于开启了中英之间的直接贸易服务，故选D。