Working from a shady balcony overlooking a vast sea, with five-star restaurants and golf courses wit
英语试题 04-12
Working from a shady balcony overlooking a vast sea, with five-star restaurants and golf courses within easy reach: what better place could there be to while away the pandemic (疫情) than Barbados?
Like most of its Caribbean neighbours, Barbados has been good at keeping COVID-19 out. Normally tourism brings in more than half of its foreign earnings. Now, many tourists are banned and the economy is declining. The tourism minister, Kerrie Symmonds, puts unemployment at close to 40%.
The prime minister, Mia Mottley intends to introduce a “Welcome Stamp” for visitors to “work remotely in paradise” for up to a year. The idea is that if holidays are not possible, then maybe the island can attract wealthy office workers who no longer have to go to the office. Other Caribbean islands are considering competing plans; Bermuda has announced one.
It did not take a pandemic for some digital workers to consider moving to a beach. But before now, it was legally difficult. Getting a work permit or immigrant status meant weeks or months of form-filling. Workers had to pay Barbadian income taxes. The new procedure looks quick and easy by comparison. For a fee of $2,000 for one person, or $3,000 for a family, you can take your Zoom calls from a real white sandy beach, instead of merely selecting it as a virtual background. You continue paying tax according to the rules of whichever country you came from.
There will be some checks on new arrivals. We do not want “the scum of the earth, but honest and respectable types”, says Mr Symmonds. Applicants must have health insurance, and the main breadwinner must earn at least $50,000. But otherwise the gates are open. “All must breathe, in this world and in this country.” says Ms Mottley.
8. The project “Welcome Stamp” is intended to ________.
A. help the economy recover B. create jobs for visitors
C. keep COVID-19 out D. compete against other islands
9. What is needed to apply for Welcome Stamp?
A. Spending weeks to get work permit or immigrant status.
B. Paying a certain amount of Barbadian income taxes.
C. Paying $2,000 per person, or $3,000 per family.
D. Earning at least $50,000 per family member
10. What can we learn from the text?
A. Barbados is the first to put forward the plan.
B All healthy and wealthy people are welcome.
C. Increasing unemployment leads to an economic decline.
D. It used to be difficult for digital workers to move to Barbados.
11. What is the main idea of the text?
A. Barbados provides a paradise to work remotely.
B. The Caribbean islands are fighting against the pandemic.
C. Office workers choose to work from the beach.
D. Working abroad becomes easier than before.
【答案】
Like most of its Caribbean neighbours, Barbados has been good at keeping COVID-19 out. Normally tourism brings in more than half of its foreign earnings. Now, many tourists are banned and the economy is declining. The tourism minister, Kerrie Symmonds, puts unemployment at close to 40%.
The prime minister, Mia Mottley intends to introduce a “Welcome Stamp” for visitors to “work remotely in paradise” for up to a year. The idea is that if holidays are not possible, then maybe the island can attract wealthy office workers who no longer have to go to the office. Other Caribbean islands are considering competing plans; Bermuda has announced one.
It did not take a pandemic for some digital workers to consider moving to a beach. But before now, it was legally difficult. Getting a work permit or immigrant status meant weeks or months of form-filling. Workers had to pay Barbadian income taxes. The new procedure looks quick and easy by comparison. For a fee of $2,000 for one person, or $3,000 for a family, you can take your Zoom calls from a real white sandy beach, instead of merely selecting it as a virtual background. You continue paying tax according to the rules of whichever country you came from.
There will be some checks on new arrivals. We do not want “the scum of the earth, but honest and respectable types”, says Mr Symmonds. Applicants must have health insurance, and the main breadwinner must earn at least $50,000. But otherwise the gates are open. “All must breathe, in this world and in this country.” says Ms Mottley.
8. The project “Welcome Stamp” is intended to ________.
A. help the economy recover B. create jobs for visitors
C. keep COVID-19 out D. compete against other islands
9. What is needed to apply for Welcome Stamp?
A. Spending weeks to get work permit or immigrant status.
B. Paying a certain amount of Barbadian income taxes.
C. Paying $2,000 per person, or $3,000 per family.
D. Earning at least $50,000 per family member
10. What can we learn from the text?
A. Barbados is the first to put forward the plan.
B All healthy and wealthy people are welcome.
C. Increasing unemployment leads to an economic decline.
D. It used to be difficult for digital workers to move to Barbados.
11. What is the main idea of the text?
A. Barbados provides a paradise to work remotely.
B. The Caribbean islands are fighting against the pandemic.
C. Office workers choose to work from the beach.
D. Working abroad becomes easier than before.
【答案】
苏19057182-3号