First-time visitors to Shanghai will invariably first be captivated by the soaring skyscrapers that symbolise the metropolis’wealth and glamour. Across the skyline of Puxi is China’s tallest building — the 88 -storey Jin Mao Tower — in Pudong New Area .

　　The towering skyscrapers are signs of Shanghai’s prosperity and the magnets that attract both local and foreign talent to converge on the metropolis. On the other hand, people are spoilt for choice by the variety of recreational and entertainment2 activities that demonstrate how colourful and interesting life is in Shanghai. It is no wonder that3 Chinese and overseas tourists are flocking to the city. The vast variety of merchandise alone may not be enough to make the tourists come back. But meticulous and excellent service will. The Shanghainese whom you see on the street will remind you of the congestion and apathy typical of a thriving city. Yet, step into any fast-food restaurant and you will be greeted with warm and friendly service from young waiters and waitresses. They will make you rethink what makes the city tick.

　　Just raise your hand and no matter how busy the waiters and waitresses are , someone will attend to you with a reply:“Right away! ”They speak clearly and know their job well and I’m only talking about ordinary service personnel4. This is a good indication of how competitive the young people in Shanghai are. Well, I did not come into contact with that many young people in Shanghai during my trip, but those whom I’ve met at fast-food restaurants and cafes no doubt struck me as highly-efficient, quick-thinking and full of drive5 . Young Singaporeans seem to lack the astuteness and dynamism that they possess.

　　It is true that a people ’s character is, to a great extent, shaped by the environment they live in. But if we rest on our laurels, we risk losing our vitality. And a city with little life will not be able to attract tourists, let alone retain its talent.

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　　練習題：

　　Ⅰ. Fill in the bla nks with

words from the pa ssa ge:

　　1. Shanghainese from different can take their pick from a wide range of choices.

　　2. Businesses can thus find a niche for themselves by different groups of consumers.

　　3. Not surprisingly, tourists recognise it at once as a shoppers’paradise.

　　4. The Shanghainese whom you see on the street will remind you of thetypical of a city.

　　5. Young Singaporeans seem to lack the that they possess.

　　Ⅱ. Question :

　　Why does the author feel necessary to mention Jinmao Tower?

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　　參考答案

　　Ⅰ. 1. strata of society

　　2. catering to the needs of

　　3. discerning

　　4. congestion and apathy / thriving

　　5. astuteness and dynamism

　　Ⅱ. Because it is a skyscraper by which first-time visitors to Shanghai will invariably first be captivated.

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　　參考譯文：

　　一個新加坡青年眼中的上海

　　上 海被視為“ 全球商業中心”, 成為“ 東方紐約”只是個時間問題。上海人口近1 700萬。人口之眾, 決定了市場潛力。在上海, 各階層各有消費天地: 人民幣3 元吃一碗拉面,或是人民幣20 元喝一杯卡普奇諾。這樣的市場構造, 讓不同市場定位的商品都找到所屬的消費群。

　　初訪者對這座城市的第一個深刻印象必然是那些象征了一個城市的財力和氣魄的高樓大廈。穿過浦西的高樓輪廓線, 遙對的是中華第一高樓——— 浦東新區的88 層的金茂大廈。

　　如果說高樓林立代表了上海的經濟繁榮, 吸引了國內外人才匯集此地大展拳腳, 那么休閑娛樂選擇之多, 則表現了上海多姿多彩的城市生活, 吸引了海內外游客紛紛前來上海觀光旅游。單是名目繁多的商品未必能吸引回頭客, 留住游客的是細致周到的服務。在街上看到的上海人讓人聯想到繁華大城市里典型的擁擠和冷漠。但是, 走進任何一家上海的快餐店, 年輕侍應生積極友善的服務態度, 讓人重新估量這個城市的無限活力。

　　顧客一個舉手動作, 侍應生再忙也會先來一句:“ 馬上來。”動作熟練利落, 說話清楚明白, 普通的服務生都有這樣水平, 上海年輕人的競爭力可想而知。此行, 筆者所接觸到的上海年輕人其實并不多, 但是在快餐店、咖啡廳所碰到的那些年輕人效率很高、思維敏捷且干勁十足。年輕的新加坡人似乎就缺少了那份機靈和朝氣。

　　誠然, 民族的氣質和個性在很大程度上是生活環境造就的, 但是如果安于現狀, 固步自封, 就會面臨喪失活力的危險。一個缺乏生命力的城市將難以吸引游客, 更別說留住人才。