The global energy crisis is approaching. What can we do? Here are some steps you can take.
Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid(电网). Just as t tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Clean or replaces filters monthly or as needed.
For central air conditioning systems and room air conditioners, look for the ENERGY STAR, the federal government’s symbol for energy efficiency. For central air, purchase the system with the highest possible Seasonal Energy Efficiency Raton. (SEER)
Use energy-efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning. Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating air. When used with air conditioning, fans allow you to raise the thermostat(恒温器) and cut costs. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so before you leave; turn off the ceiling fan.
Let a programmable thermostat! “remember for you” to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent. You can come home to a comfortable house without wasting energy and cresting pollution all day while you are at work.
Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort, make your home quieter and cleaner and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.
Gut your air conditioning load, and reduce pollution by planting planting leafy trees around your home and fixing reflective bricks on your roof.
Close blinds or shades on south-and west-facing windows during the day, or fix shading equipment to avoid heat build-up.
Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers. And use fluorescent bulbs(荧光灯), which provide bright, warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy, producing 70 percent less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs(白炽灯).
Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle. If you drive 12,500 miles a year, switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 mils per gallon to one that gets 30 mpg will save you more than ￡65 per year.
Carpool. The average U.S. commuter(乘车上班族) could save about ￡260 a year by sharing cars twice a week with two people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg---assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.According to the passage, the thermostat is used to ______.
| A．make rooms quieter | B．control room temperature |
| C．turn off the air conditioner | D．reduce room air pollution |
We can conclude from the passage that the author probably discourages ______.
| A．planting leafy trees around your home |
| B．turning off the ceiling fan before you leave your house |
| C．keeping your south-facing windows open during the day |
| D．using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs |
According to the passage, you can save fuel by ______.
| A．using energy-efficient ceiling fans | B．sharing cars with others on workdays |
| C．turning off everything not in use | D．reducing 10% of your car trips every year |
This passage is mainly about ______.
| A．energy-saving tips | B．fuel-saving tips |
| C．do-it-yourself tips | D．environment-protecting tips |
To find how the name Canada came about we must go back to the 16th century. At that time, the French dreamed of disclosing and controlling more land, of expanding(扩展)trade beyond(超出) their borders and of spreading their faith(信仰) across the world .In 1535, Francois I ,King of France, ordered a navigator (航海家) named Jacques Cartier to explore(探险) the New World and search for a passage to India.
Cartier first arrived at the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, which he wanted to explore. He did not know what to expect but he hoped that this Gulf was just an arm of the ocean between two islands. If it was, he would soon be on his way to the Far East. So he sailed upstream along the St. Lawrence River. However, insteadorreaching Asia he arrived at QuebecorStadacona, as the Indians called it. It was at this point that the term “ Canada” entered the country’s history. Apparently the word “Canada” came from an Indian work “Kanata”, which means communityorvillage. Cartier first used it when he referred to StadaconaorQuebec. What a huge “ village” Canada is!In the early sixteenth century , the King of France ordered Cartier to ______
| A． find the new world |
| B． build an entirely new country |
| C． go and visit the American Indians |
| D． get more information about America and find a way to Asia |
Having reached the Gulf of St. Lawrence Cartier thought _____
| A． he had already got to India |
| B． it was a water way to the New World |
| C． it was a water passage to the East |
| D． he had sailed into the Atlantic |
In the early sixteenth century , Quebec was only ____.
| A． an Indian village |
| B． a little town in southern Canada |
| C． a village at the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence |
| D． the place which we call Canada now |
Pick out the right statements from the following _____
| A． Quebec was a village and Stadacona was another |
| B． Cartier mistook Quebec for Stadacona |
| C． Stadacona was a village in Quebec |
| D． Stadacona was what the Indians called Quebec then |
“Canada” was first used to refer to _____
| A． a small town in Stadacona |
| B． the place called Quebec |
| C． a long water passage |
| D． a huge village including Quebec and Stadacona |
Lisa is ten years old. She is disabled because she has brain damage. She could not do even the simplest thing until a year ago. She could not comb her hairorfeed herself. Her parents loved her. And they treated her like a baby.
Mr. Ching has a daughter and a son. They are both grown. They live far from their father. Mr. Cling felt lonely. He decided to become a foster grandfather to a handicapped child. And that was how he met Lisa.
Foster grandparents are grandparents who are not related by birth but foster parents love the children they care for. They also help the handicapped children in special ways. They help to dress and feed the children. They read to them and tell them stories. They also help with handicapped children’s therapy. Therapy is the treatment of a diseaseordisorder. It helps the children overcome their handicaps.
Mr. Cling became a foster grandparent to Lisa when she was nine years old. At first, Lisa was shy. She was afraid because Mr. Cling was a stranger. But he came to see her every day, gradually she began to trust him. At last, Lisa let Mr. Cling do things for her.
Cling speaks for most foster grandparents when he say, “We all benefit. The handicapped children benefit because we help them live more useful lives. And we benefit because we know the children need us and love us. For any person, there is no greater happiness than that.”Why did Lisa need help?
| A．She was a baby |
| B．She did not want to do anything. |
| C．She had brain damage. |
| D．She was a blind girl. |
What does the underlined word “foster” in paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Elderly | B．Related by birth |
| C．Not related by birth | D．King-hearted |
Which five things do foster grandparents do for handicapped children?
a help with their treatment b dress them c live in their homes
d feed them e charge them money f read to them
g tell them stories h make fun of them
| A．a,b,d,e,f | B．a,c,e,f,h | C．b,c,d,f,g | D．a,b,d,f,g |
Why did Mr. Cling foster Lisa?
| A．Lisa needs looking after. |
| B．The passage doesn’t mention of. |
| C．Lisa need caring for and Mr. Cling also gets enjoyment from it. |
| D．Mr. Cling is too lonely. |
The best title for this passage is ________.
| A．Lisa, A Handicapped Girl |
| B．Why Did He Do That? |
| C．Foster Grandparents |
| D．The Greatest Happiness! |
The advertisement appeared in my e-mail—“1-800-Flowers: Mother’s Day Madness —for just $39.99！” I almost clicked on it, forgetting that those services would not be needed this year. My mother, Margaret Feiddman, died at the age of 89, and so this is my first Mother’s Day without my mom.
In my childhood, my mom appeared to be a typical suburban housewife of her generation. She sewed many of my sisters’ clothes, including both of their wedding dresses and boy’s suits for me. And on the side, she won several national bridge tournaments(桥牌锦标赛).
My mom left many indelible marks on me. The first was to never lose heart and to be independent. My dad died suddenly when I was 19. My mom worked hard for a couple of years. But in1975, I won a scholarship to study in Britain and my mom surprised us all by announcing that she decided to go with me. When I met difficulties, she always said: “You’re a man, so never lose heart, never be knocked down, and try your best to pursue(追求) your dreams.”
My mom’s other big influence on me is a sense of optimism. She had taken her knocks. But every time life knocked her down, she got up and kept on marching forward, encouraged by the saying that pessimists(悲观者) are usually right, optimists are usually wrong, but most great changes are made by optimists.
How I wish to listen to my mother’s words, and give my best regards on this Mother’s Day, but I have no chance now! My best friends, treasure(珍惜)your mother’s love!The author mentioned the advertisement to ___.
| A．show he’s tired of the advertisements |
| B．explain he missed his mother very much |
| C．make you believe that he was very kind |
| D．urge the readers to buy the present for their mothers |
What experience of the author’s mother surprised the author?
| A．That she volunteered to go to Britain with her son. |
| B．That she gained knowledge all by herself. |
| C．That she did all the housework by herself. |
| D．That she won several national bridge tournaments. |
What dose the underlined word “indelible” in the 3rd paragraph probably mean?
| A．be out of control | B．be easy to remember |
| C．be destroyed easily | D．be impossible to forget |
We can know about the author’s mother that_____.
| A．She encouraged the author to pursue his dreams |
| B．she felt very lonely in her late life |
| C．She never received a present from her children |
| D．she passed away before the author’s father |
Which can be the best title for the passage?
| A．My Great Mother | B．Mother and I |
| C．Treasure Mother’s Love | D．Mother’s Day Madness |
Do you know what your child is going to do when the school bell rings at the end of the day? More than 14 million students leave school every afternoon and have nowhere to go, since they do not have access to(使用) affordable afterschool opportunities. According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (NYVPRC), 90% of the Americans think all youths should have access to afterschool programs(课外活动项目), but twothirds of parents say they have trouble finding programs locally. The bad news is that the situation may be getting worse.
Afterschool hours are the peak time for juvenile crimes and risky behaviors, including alcohol(酒精) and drug(药物) use. NYVPRC states that children who do not spend any time in afterschool activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become a teen parent. Kids are also at the highest risk of becoming a victim of violence after school, particularly between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The highest amount of juvenile crime occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when most children are dismissed from school(放学).
The NYVPRC defines afterschool programs as safe and structured activities that offer children opportunities to learn new skills. The skills students learn can range from technology and math to reading and art. Some programs also offer opportunities for internship (实习), community service, or mentoring. These programs have been shown to improve academic achievement, as well as relieve the stresses(减压) on working families. A report by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S Department of Justice shows that students in afterschool programs have fewer behavioral problems and more selfconfidence, and can handle conflicts better than students who are not involved with these programs. In addition, according to the Harvard Family Research Project, afterschool programs help students from low income families overcome the inequities (不公平) they face in the school system.Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
| A．Most parents don't believe in afterschool programs. |
| B．Students are not willing to attend afterschool programs. |
| C．It's difficult for parents to find afterschool programs for their kids. |
| D．Parents don't care about where their children go after school. |
The underlined word “juvenile” in Paragraph 2 has a similar meaning to “________”.
| A．student | B．teenager | C．adult | D．campus |
We learn from the second paragraph that________.
| A．the teachers should watch over kids after school |
| B．children are dismissed from school too late |
| C．afterschool hours are a risky time for children |
| D．children should go home immediately school is over |
The author of the passage probably________.
| A．fully supports afterschool programs |
| B．doubts the effects of afterschool programs |
| C．believes structured activities are useless for children |
| D．thinks students today are too stressed |
What is the theme of the passage?
| A．Prevention of juvenile crimes. |
| B．Risks kids face after school. |
| C．A research report on the stresses of the students. |
| D．The benefits of afterschool programs. |
The United States of America is the most culturally diverse(多样化) country in the world in terms of culture religion, ethnicity(种族) and sexual orientation. As a combination of various races and cultures, America is home to all. The culture here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage(遗产) as they are to be American.
What is now the US was initially inhabited(居住) by native people until the land was settled by various European groups and African slaves. Since the 20th century, the country has become a heaven for people from all over the globe(全球).
The arrival of immigrants(移民) has shifted populations from rural(农村的) areas into cities because immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. At present, 81 percent of the inhabitants in the US live in cities.
Cultural and ethnic diversity adds a unique flavor to cities that is expressed through distinct(独特的) neighborhoods, restaurants, places of worship, museums, nightlife and multicultural learning environments.
Unique musical forms, such as jazz, rock and roll, Chicano music, and the blues, grow in the US by mixing a variety of culturally distinct musical traditions to create a new form.
At the executive (行政的) level, the country is headed by a mixedrace president; two posts(职位) on the Supreme Court are held by members of the country's two largest minorities.There is also diversity in state and local governments.
Without its rich mixture of races and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom, America acts as a stage where different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but develop well.According to the passage, America is a country________.
| A．that welcomes people from all over the world |
| B．where citizens take more pride in their original culture |
| C．that is mostly settled by Europeans and Africans |
| D．where 81% of the population are immigrants |
Where did most people live before many immigrants came to America?
| A．In the urban areas. | B．In the rural areas. |
| C．In the southern part of America. | D．In the northern part of America. |
We can learn from the sixth paragraph that________.
| A．diversity(多样化) has existed in America in almost every aspect(方面) |
| B．most posts in American state governments are held by mixedrace people |
| C．equality and freedom make America a fair country |
| D．diversity has greatly affected the American political field |
What's the best title for this passage?
| A．The effects of culture and diversity on America. |
| B．The influence of globalization on America. |
| C．The political development of America. |
| D．The bright future of America. |
We would most probably read this passage in a book about________.
| A．science | B．history | C．culture | D．amusement |