In 1993, New York State ordered stores to charge money on beverage (饮料) containers. Within a year, consumers had returned millions of aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles. Plenty of companies were eager to accept the aluminum and glass as raw material for new products, but because few could figure out what to do with the plastic, much of it wound end up buried in landfills (垃圾填埋场). The problem was not limited to New York. Unfortunately, there were too few uses for second-hand plastic.
Today, one out of five plastic soda bottles is recycled in the United States. The reason for the change is that now there are dozens of companies across the country buying discarded (被丢弃的) plastic soda bottles and turning them into fence post, paint brushes, etc.
As the New York experience shows, recycling involves more than simply separating valuable materials from the rest of the rubbish. A discard remains a discard until somebody figures out how to give it a second life — and until economic arrangements exist to give that second life value. Without enough markets to take in materials collected for recycling, throwaways actually reduce prices for used materials.
Fewer landfill space and rising costs for burying and burning rubbish are forcing local governments to look more closely at recycling. In many areas, the East Coast especially, recycling is already the least expensive waste-management choice. For every ton of waste recycled, a city avoids paying for its disposal (清除,处理), which, in parts of New York, amounts to savings of more than $100 per ton. Recycling also stimulates the local economy by creating jobs and reduces the pollution control and energy costs of industries that make recycled products by giving them a better raw material.What regulation was issued by New York State concerning beverage containers?
A.A fee should be charged on used containers for recycling. |
B.Throwaways should be collected by the state for recycling. |
C.Consumers had to pay for beverage containers and could get their money back on returning them. |
D.Beverage companies should be responsible for collecting and reusing discarded plastic soda bottles. |
The returned plastic bottles in New York used to .
A. be turned into raw materials |
B. be separated from other rubbish |
C. have a second-life value |
D. end up somewhere underground |
The key problem in dealing with returned plastic beverage containers is .
A. how to reduce their recycling costs |
B. to sell them at a profitable price |
C. how to turn them into useful things |
D. to lower the prices for used materials |
Recycling has become the first choice for the disposal of rubbish because .
A. recycling causes little pollution |
B. other methods are more expensive |
C. recycling has great appeal for the jobless |
D. local governments find it easy to manage |
It can be concluded from the passage that .
A. recycling is to be suggested both economically and environmentally |
B. local governments in the U. S. can expect big profits from recycling |
C. rubbish is a potential remedy for the shortage of raw materials |
D. landfills will still be widely used for waste disposal |
When did you last see a polar bear? On a trip to a zoo, perhaps? If you had attended a winter activity in New York a few years ago, you would have seen a whole polar bear club. These "Polar Bears" are people who meet frequently in the winter to swim in freezing cold water. That day, the air temperature was 3℃, and the water temperature was a bit higher. The members of the Polar Bear Club at Coney Island, New York are usually about the age of 60. Members must satisfy two requirements. First, they must get along well with everyone else in the group. This is very important because there are so many different kinds of people in the club. Polar Bears must also agree to swim outdoors at least twice a month from November through February.
Doctors do not agree about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body's temperature drops so low that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and water temperature is much greater in summer than in winter.
The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits (or advantages) of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system(循环系统)because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and should not try cold-water swimming.
The main benefits (or advantages) of cold-water swimming are probably mental. The Polar Bears love to swim year-round; they find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-year-old woman says. "When I go into the water, I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away."
The members of the Polar Bear
Club must meet the following requirements except that __________.
A.they must reach the age of 60 |
B.they should be easy to make friends with |
C.they must swim outdoors at least 8 times in the four cold months |
D.they must agree to swim outdoors from November through February |
Doctors __________.
A.encourage people to take part in cold-water swimming actively |
B.point out the possible danger of blood illness during cold-water swimming |
C.believe swimming is helpful both in winter and in summer |
D.have different ideas about the medical effects of cold-water swimming |
According to the passage, some doctors believe it is true that __________.
A.you are healthy if cold-water swimming turns your skin color blue |
B.cold-water swimming causes more heart attacks in summer than in winter |
C.cold-water swimming can make the body temperature dangerously high |
D.Polar Bears are bears swimming in freezing water |
The Polar Bears like to swim all the year round, for __________.
A.they can remain young |
B.it is an easy way to keep the body warm in winter |
C.they find it enjoyable and interesting |
D.they might meet fewer troubles in life |
The passage is mainly about __________.
A.a group of cold-water swimming lovers |
B.the polar bears' life |
C.doctors' ideas about cold-water swimming |
D.the requirements of the Polar Bear Club |
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving and never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐观), but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times.”
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers(移民局官员), took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles go away at last! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.How did the author get to know America?
A.From radio programs | B.From books and pictures |
C.From her mother | D.From her relatives |
Upon leaving for America the author felt __________.
A.excited | B.confused | C.worried | D.amazed |
For the first two years in New York, the author __________.
A.often lost her way |
B.did not think about her future |
C.studied in three different schools |
D.got on well with her stepfather |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4?
A.She worked as a translator. |
B.She attended a lot of job interviews. |
C.She paid telephone bills for her family. |
D.She helped her family with her English. |
The author believes that __________.
A.her future will be free from troubles |
B.it is difficult to learn to become patient |
C.there are more good things than bad things |
D.good things will happen if one keeps trying |
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.
“Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads,” the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocel
ots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.
“Eco-passages” may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. “These eco-passages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid road accidents,” said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society.
But do animals actually use the eco-passages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an eco-passage that went under a highway. This showed that the lions used the passage.
Builders of eco-passages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders(火蜥蜴)and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.
The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass! The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that __________.
A.wild animals have become more dangerous |
B.the driving condition has improved greatly |
C.an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents |
D.the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work |
From the story, we know an eco-passage is __________.
A.an underground path for cars |
B.a fence built for the safety of the area |
C.a bridge for animals to get over a river |
D.a path for animals to cross the road |
When the writer says that “animals seem to be catching on” (Para. 6), he means __________.
A.animals begin to realize the dangers on the road |
B.animals are crossing the road in groups |
C.animals are increasing in number |
D.animals begin to learn to use eco-passages |
The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because __________.
A.wild animals may attack cars | B.they may see wild animals on eco-passages |
C.they may see wild animals in the park![]() |
D.wild animals may jam the road |
The best title for the passage is __________.
A.Special bridges help animals cross the road |
B.Endangered animals increase because of roadkill |
C.Animals fail to cross the road |
D.Take steps to protect animals in danger |
I’m sure you know the song “Happy Birthday”. But do you know who wrote the song and for whom it was written?
The retired professor, Archibald A. Hill in Lucasville, USA could tell us the story. Ninety-seven years ago, two of Mr. Archibald Hill’s aunts, Miss Patty Hill and Miss Mildred Hill were asked to write some songs for a book called “Song Storied for the Sunday Morning”. Miss Patty Hill and Miss Mildred Hill were both kindergarten teachers then. They loved children very much and wrote many beautiful songs for the book. One of them was the famous “Good
Morning to You.” The song said, “Good morning to you, good morning to you, dear children, good morning to all.” This song was very popular at that time among kindergarten children. But not many grown-
ups knew it. A few years later little Archibald was born. As his aunt, Miss Patty Hill sang the song “Happy Birthday” to the melody(曲调)of “Good Morning to you” to her little nephew(侄子). She sang the song like this: Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Archie! Happy birthday to you!
Miss Patty Hill and her sister had never expected that this song would become so popular, but it really did. People all over the world like the song because of its simplicity in tune(曲调简单)and friendliness in words.Archibald A. Hill was __________.
A. English B. Russian C. American D. Australian
Professor Archibald A. Hill was Miss Mildred Hill’s __________.
A. son B. student C. brother D. nephewThe song “Happy Birthday” has a history of __________ years.
A.97 | B.about 90 | C.more than 90 | D.less than 90 |
Why did Miss Hiss wrote songs?
A.Because they are musicians. |
B.Because they love children. |
C.Because they were asked to write for a book. |
D.Because their nephew asked them to do so. |
The sentence “it really did” means __________.
A.The song really became popular |
B.Their wish would really come true |
C.People all over the world like to listen to the song |
D.Yes, but the song didn’t become popular |
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项多余选项。___
After I had spent a week with my English family, I slowly began to understand their English a little better. _____ Students in my group are from different cities of Britain and their dialects (方言) are different too! Some of their accents are quite strong and they also have their own words and expressions.
____ Before I came to England I had thought that fish and chips were eaten every day. That’s quite wrong! I get rather annoyed now when I hear all the foolish words about typical English food.
I had expected to see “London fog”. Do you remember our texts about it? We had no idea that most of this “thick fog” disappeared many years ago when people stopped using coal in their homes. But the idea to speak about weather was very helpful. ___ On the other hand, habits are different. People tell me what is typical British here in London is not always typical in Wales or Scotland
____
But what is ordinary for all British is that they follow traditions(传统). Probably Britain has more living signs of its past than many other countries. And people have always been proud of having ancient (古老) buildings in capitals, big cities and the countryside.
I will tell you more about Britain in my other letters.
Love from Britain.
Peter
A.The weather in London is really changeable. |
B.I have difficulty in understanding my classmates. |
C.Thanks for your nice letter. |
D.The family I live with are friendly. |
E. It’s very different from what I learned at school.
F. Local habits and traditions are not the same as what we knew.
G. But it’s not the language that’s different and surprising.