Directions: Read the following text and
choose the best answer from the right column to complete each of the unfinished
statements in the left column. There are two extra choices in the right column.
Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. The casino at the smart Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the
Bahamas is bigger than 20 tennis court. Tourists flit from slot machine to
roulette table, drift past Temples of the Sun and Moon and walk by Crystal Gate
and Poseidon’s Throne. But the only Bahamians in sight are waiters, croupier and
cashiers. The Bahamas legalised casino gambling in 1969, when
they were still a British colony. But mainly because of the influence of local
pastors, both Bahamians and foreigners who live in the country are banned from
gambling. This has not stopped residents from placing bets.
Instead, they gamble off the books in "number houses" or "webshops"—legal
internet cafes that offer illegal bets on the side and operate in plain sight.
These have mushroomed in recent years, even as tourism has stagnated and hotels
have reduced staff. This pretence will be put to the test on January 28th, when
a referendum will be held on legalising gambling in web shops, as well as on a
separate proposal to set up a national lottery. The well-funded
campaign supporting the initiative has been distributing posters and T-shirts.
It argues that web shops account for almost 2% of jobs in the country, and that
gambling taxes could help close the budget deficit. The "no" movement, which
calls itself "Save Our Bahamas", is led by the islands’ evangelical churches.
Perry Christie, the prime minister, says he has "no horse in the race". The
opposition accuses him, without proof, of running a "fixed" referendum on behalf
of web-shop owners who back him financially. If the proposal is
approved, the government will probably try to pass a series of reforms supported
by the big hotel casinos. In order to compete with Las Vegas, New Jersey or
Macau, they say, they need authorisation for credit-card payment for chips,
online and mobile wagers, private VIP gaming rooms and betting on sports matches
while play is in progress. They also want stronger legal tools to collect unpaid
debts and the right to void payments caused by computer errors. The tourism
minister has already announced support for these policies. However, letting
Bahamians into the casinos is not yet on the agenda. A．are
prohibited from gambling B．are waiters, croupier and
cashiers C．is bigger than twenty tennis court
D．may try to pass a series of reforms E．are internet cafes that
offer illegal bets F．is accused of running a fixed
referendum G．is led by the islands’ evangelical churches The Government ______.