Climate change, pollution, overuse of water and development are killing some of the world’s most famous rivers including China’s Yangtze, India’s Ganges and African’s Nile, WWF said on Tuesday. At the global launch of its report “World’s Top 10 Rivers at Risk”, the group said many rivers could dry out, affecting hundreds of millions of people and killing unique aquatic life.
“If these rivers die, millions will lose their livelihoods, biodiversity will be destroyed on a massive scale, there will be less fresh water and agriculture, resulting in less food security,” said Rayi Singh, secretarygeneral of WWF-India. The report launched ahead of “World Water Day” today, also cited the Rio Grande in the United States, the Mekong and Indus in Asia, Europe’s Danube, La Plata in South America and Australia’s Murray-Darling as in need of greater protection.
Rivers are the world’s main source of fresh water and WWF says about half of the available supply is already being used up. Dams have destroyed habitats and cut rivers off from their flood plains while climate change could affect the seasonal water flows that feed them, the report said. Fish populations, the top source of protein and overall life support for hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide, are also being threatened, it found… The Yangtze basin is one of the most polluted rivers in the world because of decades of heavy industrialization, damming and huge influxes of sediment from land conversion.
Climate change, including higher temperatures, also means serious consequences for fishery productivity, water supply and political security in Africa’s arid Nile basin. Tributaries flowing into the Ganges are drying up because of irrigation, WWF said.
1. What does the text mainly about?
A. Saving fresh water in our life.
B. How to protect our rivers.
C. An important discovery.
D. World’s top 10 rivers are at risk.
2. We can infer from the text that_________.
A. rivers’ dying out could affect food security
B. there are four Asian rivers mentioned in the passage
C. the Yangtze is polluted thanks to the lack of enough tributaries
D. higher temperatures couldn’t affect fishery productivity
3. The top 10 rivers are fast dying as a result of the following EXCEPT_________。
A. climate change B. wasting water
C. pollution D. dams
4. WWF is probably a name of_________.
A. an organization B. a newspaper
C. a magazine D. a report
Two Chinese living in South Africa were killed in a robbery (抢劫) on February 5, bringing the total number of Chinese killed in the country to four in less than a month.
Chen Jianqing, 35, from Southeast China's Fujian Province, who ran a shop with her husband in a small town 45 kilometers away from South African capital Johannesburg, was shot dead.
"One of her business, partners died later in the hospital," the Chinese consulate (领事馆) officials in Johannesburg said yesterday. "Local police are trying to find more information about the case. And we have told the victims' (遇难者的) relatives and are helping them come to Johannesburg,". consul Wu Gang told China Daily. Chen's husband was injured during the robbery but did not suffer seriously, said Wu.
The robbery happened at about 5:45 pm local time and the armed robbers ran away after taking more than 50,000 South African rand (US $8,200). and some jewellery, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The killing happened just three days after Chen Jingmin, a 23-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong Province, was shot dead north outside Johannesburg by armed robbers. On January 10, a Hong Kong businessman was attacked and robbed at his home in Johannesburg and died the next day in the hospital. All these happened just in less than a month.
According to records, there were more than 40 robberies attacking Chinese in South Africa last year, in which eight were killed. More than 100,000 Chinese are doing various kinds of businesses in South Africa, according to a Chinese official in the country. An increasing number of them are becoming targets( 目标) of robbers after buying big houses or luxury cars, the official said.The passage is probably ______.
| A．a business story | B．a scientific article |
| C．a newspaper report | D．an official document |
Who were killed on February 5 in a small town near Johannesburg?
| A．Chen Jianqing and her husband. |
| B．Chen Jianqing and one of her partners. |
| C．Chen Jingmin and a Hong Kong businessman. |
| D．Chen Jingmin and one of his relatives. |
How many Chinese were killed in South Africa since January ?
| A．2 | B．4. | C．5. | D．8. |
______________ are more likely to be robbed in South Africa.
| A．Those Chinese who depend too much on local police |
| B．Those Chinese who live near the capital of South Africa |
| C．Those Chinese who open shops selling Chinese goods |
| D．Those Chinese who leave others the impression of being rich |
The ad most probably comes from the “_______”part of the newspaper.
| A．Education | B．Farming | C．Travel | D．History |
Which of the following ways can offer you enough information about the celebration in Plano?
| A．Calling 214-599-7733. |
| B．Visiting5445 Independence Pkwy. |
| C．Visiting 5445 Beltline Rd. |
| D．Calling 214-599-7783. |
The purpose of the ad is to _____
| A．tell readers what Walt Disney is |
| B．encourage readers to attend a Disney celebration |
| C．look for helpers for the celebration |
| D．announce a plan of a Disney celebration |
According to the ad, AAA Travel is_____________.
| A．the name of an agent |
| B．a way of traveling |
| C．a way of celebration |
| D．a kind of activity held by Disney |
The story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" was created by Dr. Spencer. Johnson to help him deal with a difficult change in his life. It showed him how to take his changing situation seriously but not take himself so seriously.
When his friends noticed how much better life had become for him, and asked why, Dr. Johnson shared his "Cheese" story. Many later said how greatly the story had helped them to keep their sense of humor, to change, and to gain something better, too.
Twenty years after the story was created, "Who Moved My Cheese?" was finally published. It soon became a No.1 international best seller, with one million hardcover copies in print within the first sixteen months and over ten million copies within the next two years.
Some critics (批评家) do not understand why so many people find the book so valuable. They say the story is simple enough for a child to understand, and it insults (侮辱) their intelligence. Some even fear it suggests that people should mindlessly accept unnecessary changes forced upon them by others, although that is not in the story.
The author said that both the fans and the critics are "right" in their own way. It is not what is in the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" but how you understand it and apply it to your own situation that gives it value.
Hopefully the way you understand the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" and the way you put it into action in your life will help you find and enjoy the "New Cheese" you deserve (应得).
60. Why did the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" become a best seller as soon as it was published?
A. Because it is simple and easy to read.
B. Because readers can learn a lot from it.
C. Because the writer is quite famous.
D. Because it has many interesting stories~ Some people don't like the book because they think that__________.
| A．it is too simple for adults to read |
| B．the author aims to insult them |
| C．there are many wrong ideas in it |
| D．the author's intelligence is too high |
Which of the following is NOT true about the book?
| A．The author's friends were interested to know why life became better, for Spencer. |
| B．The author agreed with both the fans and the critics of his book. |
| C．Some people worry the book may have a bad effect on readers. |
| D．The "New Cheese" in the last paragraph refers to a kind of freshly-made milk food. |
The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to_______.
| A．help Dr. Johnson sell more of his book |
| B．introduce the meaning of the book |
| C．help readers understand the book and get something from it |
| D．introduce people's different opinions on the book |
On September 22, 2007, 108 Chinese cities took part in Car-Free Day, a global event held every year, for the first time.
China became the world’s second-largest auto market and third-largest car-maker in 2006. It has also become the second-largest greenhouse gas producer in the world, and is rapidly catching up with the United States. In this sense, China’s participation will greatly promote the Car-Free Day movement.
The number of cars on the road is going up rapidly in China. In Beijing, about 1,000 new cars are added to the streets on an average day.
Cars certainly offer people plenty of freedom to move around. But in many Chinese cities, appearance of too many cars has turned into a major problem. Getting stuck in traffic jams is an everyday experience for drivers.
Even worse is the environmental impact（影响）caused by cars. According to a national report, on a “smog day”, 79 percent of the air pollution is caused by cars.
The growing number of traffic accidents is another problem. Over 100,000 people die from traffic accidents every year in China, which is by far the highest number of road deaths in the world.
108 cities’ participation in Car-Free Day shows growing public concern about the traffic and environmental problems caused by cars.
On this day, all cars were banned from running in selected areas of the participating cities. People were encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport. According to experts, the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere produced by cars was reduced by 3,000 tons on Car-Free Day.
With cleaner air and smoother traffic flow on the day, more cities will hopefully want to join the event next year. And more people might share the hope that Car-Free Day is not just on September 22, but a possibility 365 days of the year.From the passage, we can know that China ______.
| A．has the world’s highest number of road deaths |
| B．has the world’s largest auto market |
| C．is the world’s largest greenhouse gas producer |
| D．is the world’s second-largest car-maker |
Which of the following is discussed in the passage?
| A．The causes of car growth in China. |
| B．The effects of car growth in China. |
| C．The history of World Car-Free Day. |
| D．The popularity of World Car-Free Day. |
On Car-Free Day in 2007, 108 cities in China ______.
| A．didn’t allow people to drive |
| B．didn’t have air pollution |
| C．called on people to drive less |
| D．called on people to drive freely |
Car-Free Day in China will ______.
| A．be held all the year round |
| B．stop air pollution and traffic jams |
| C．attract more people to join in |
| D．reduce the production of cars |
President Barack Obama had a big pat on the back for his young daughters on Tuesday, saying they have got used to life in t
he White House.
After more than a year at the US presidential mansion, Malia Obama, 11, and Sasha Obama, 8, have made their dad proud with their ability to balance their private life with life in the public eye, he told NBC television.
"The happiest thing about the past year and a half has been the girls' adjustment (适应). They have just been great. They're doing well in school," Obama said.
"They're not as constrained. They can wander around. Their Secret Service protection is a lot more low key (低调)," he explained. "So they've got soccer, they've got basketball, they go sleep over at their friend's houses.
"Sometimes I've got 12 little girls screaming on the third floor of the White House. And they made a great adjustment."
The president also admitted he was concerned about how his daughters would deal with his public life as they get a bit older.
"Now I get a little worried about them when they're teenagers because I think that's the time when you're already feeling uncomfortable about your parents, and then imagine if your dad's in the newspaper every day and people are calling him a fool. I feel a little worried about that."
"But on the other hand, Malia and Sasha have just turned out to be unbelievably well adjusted kids," Obama said.
"The thing that's most important to me is that they are so respectful of everybody and haven't gotten on any airs (摆架子). It’s all because of Michelle as she wouldn't put up with (容忍) any of that stuff."Why is President Obama so happy according to the passage?
| A．His daughters have been great in the public eye. |
| B．His daughters can balance their life with their study. |
| C．His daughters have got used to life in the White House. |
| D．His daughters have been in the White House for over a year. |
The underlined word “constrained” in Paragraph 4 most probably means__________.
|
President Obama is a little worried about ___________.
| A．what his daughters’ life will be like in the future |
| B．how his daughters will get on with him when they’re a little older |
| C．how his daughters will make friends with people around in the future |
| D．how his daughters will deal with his public life when they’re teenagers |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. Michelle is proud of being Obama’s wife.
B. Michelle allows her daughters to get on airs.
C. President Obama appreciates what Michelle has done.
D. Obama’s daughters are respected by everyone in the USA.