①For the first time in history more people live in towns than in the country. In Britain this has had a curious result.While polls show Britons rate “the countryside” alongside the royal family, Shakespeare and the National Health Service (NHS) as what makes them proudest of their country, this has limited political support.

②A century ago Octavia Hill launched the National Trust not to rescue stylish houses but to save “the beauty of natural places for everyone forever.” It was specifically to provide city dwellers with spaces for leisure where they could experience “a refreshing air.” Hill’s pressure later led to the creation of national parks and green belts. They don’t make countryside any more, and every year concrete consumes more of it. It needs constant guardianship.

③At the next election none of the big parties seem likely to endorse this sentiment. The Conservatives’ planning reform explicitly gives rural development priority over conservation, even authorising “off-plan” building where local people might object. The concept of sustainable development has been defined as profitable. Labour likewise wants to discontinue local planning where councils oppose development. The Liberal Democrats are silent. Only Ukip, sensing its chance, has sided with those pleading for a more considered approach to using green land. Its Campaign to Protect Rural England struck terror into many local Conservative parties.

④The sensible place to build new houses, factories and offices is where people are, in cities and towns where infrastructure is in place. The London agents Stirling Ackroyd recently identified enough sites for half a million houses in the London area alone, with no intrusion on green belt. What is true of London is even truer of the provinces.

⑤The idea that “housing crisis” equals “concreted meadows” is pure lobby talk. The issue is not the need for more houses but, as always, where to put them. Under lobby pressure, George Osborne favours rural new-build against urban renovation and renewal. He favours out-of-town shopping sites against high streets. This is not a free market but a biased one. Rural towns and villages have grown and will always grow. They do so best where building sticks to their edges and respects their character. We do not ruin urban conservation areas. Why ruin rural ones?

⑥Development should be planned, not let rip. After the Netherlands, Britain is Europe’s most crowded country. Half a century of town and country planning has enabled it to retain an enviable rural coherence, while still permitting low-density urban living. There is no doubt of the alternative—the corrupted landscapes of southern Portugal, Spain or Ireland. Avoiding this rather than promoting it should unite the left and right of the political spectrum. 

1.Britain’s public sentiment about the countryside _________

A is not well reflected in politics.

B is fully backed by the royal family.

C didn’t start till the Shakespearean age.

D has brought much benefit to the NHS.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第一段可知，民意调查显示英国人认为“乡村”与王室、莎士比亚和国民医疗服务体系（NHS）一样，令他们为自己的国家感到自豪，但这得到的政治支持有限。可见该观点在政治中没有得到很好的体现，故选A。

2.According to Paragraph 2, the achievements of the National Trust are now being _________

A largely overshadowed.

B properly protected.

C effectively reinforced.

D gradually destroyed.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据题目定位到第二段，可知英国托管协会的成立是为了保护自然，为城市居民提供休闲空间，但后来他们不再建设乡村，混凝土每年都在消耗更多的乡村。由此可见，英国托管协会的成果正在被逐渐破坏，故选D。

3.Which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A Labour is under attack for opposing development.

B The Conservatives may abandon “off-plan” building.

C Ukip may gain from its support for rural conservation.

D The Liberal Democrats are losing political influence.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据题目定位到第三段，可知只有独立党意识到了是自己的机会，站在了那些呼吁在使用绿地方面考虑应更周全的人的一边，推测独立党可能会获得支持保护乡村的民众的支持，故选C。

4.The author holds that George Osborne’s preference _________

A shows his disregard for the character of rural areas.

B stresses the necessity of easing the housing crisis.

C highlights his firm stand against lobby pressure.

D reveals a strong prejudice against urban areas.

解析：选A。A观点态度题。根据George Osborne定位到第五段，可知George Osborne支持在农村新建房屋，反对城市翻新和改建。结合作者的语气Why ruin rural ones?可见George Osborne的想法并没有保护乡村，故选A。

5.In the last paragraph, the author shows his appreciation of _________

A the size of population in Britain.

B the enviable urban lifestyle in Britain.

C the town-and-country planning in Britain.

D the political life in today’s Britain.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据题目定位到最后一段，可知作者认为开发应该有计划，英国半个世纪的城乡规划使其保持了令人羡慕的乡村连贯性和低密度的城市生活，由此可见作者对英国的城乡规划表示赞赏，故选C。