A sunflower is a sunflower . A mobile phone is a mobile phone . But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment?
As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to bury it in the garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower. A biodegradable (能进行生物递降分解的) mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists.
Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic and can be hard or soft, and able to change shape. Overtime it can also break down into the soil without giving out any toxic chemicals. British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this new type of cover turns into waste, it forms nitrates (硝酸钾). These feed the seed and help the flower grow. Engineers have designed a small transparent window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only grows when the phone is thrown away. "We've only put sunflower seeds into the covers so far. But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time," said one scientist.
As phone technology is developing so quickly people are constantly throwing their mobiles away. This means manufacturers are under pressure to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can offer some relief for nature, according to the scientists. "The seed is released and the flower grows in the pot so you don't have to concern yourself with the phone when you have finished using it," said Kerry Kirwan. She leads the research team, which is based at the University of Warwick in Britain. The main idea of the passage is ________ .
| A．the relationship between high tech and environment |
| B．the phone technology is developing |
| C．phone can be turned into flowers |
| D．mobile phone and environment |
The purpose of introducing a biodegradable mobile phone is ______ .
| A．to encourage consumers to recycle |
| B．to prevent consumers from throwing their phones away |
| C．to meet consumers’ need |
| D．to help consumers know which flower can best perform |
What is the possible meaning of the underlined word ?
| A．pleasant | B．poisonous | C．useful | D．new |
Which of the following statements is NOT true ?
| A．Engineers have designed a small transparent window to hold the rose seed . |
| B．Mobiles with biodegradable covers can do good to nature . |
| C．Manufacturers are under pressure to find ways of recycling mobiles . |
| D．The flower only grows when the phone is thrown away . |
Twenty-three senior high school graduates of 1999 from Wuhan, Hubei Province, have recently left for Germany on a work-study program according to Xi’an Evening Newspaper.
They will study hotel management in Bavarian Hotel Management School for a year and then take up two-year practice in Germany. Upon graduation, they will also get diplomas (文凭) recognized internationally. During their two-year practice, they earn no less than 1 200 Deutsche Marks (德国马克) a month.
The program, organized by a company in Wuhan, aims at providing the city’s high school graduates with new job chances.
Applicants (申请者) must first pass an exam given by the German side and pay 180 000 yuan covering the three year’s study and living expenses in Germany. In spite of this, the program still attracted a lot of high school graduates and their parents. And applicants came in a continuous stream.
“The change for my child to go to college is small. What’s more, it’s not easy to find a job. We find the work-study program an equally good way out for him,” a parent said, “We don’t worry much about the high costs because the total income from the two-year-long practice will be quite enough to clear them.” This text is mainly about _________.
| A．a hotel management school in Bavarian, Germany |
| B．students from Wuhan studying in Germany |
| C．students going abroad on work-study program |
| D．new job chances offered in Germany |
Which of the following words best describes the parents of these 23 students?
| A．Wasteful. | B．Wise. | C．Sorry. | D．Worried. |
We can infer that these applicants found it hard ___________.
| A．to go to college at home |
| B．to pay for the cost |
| C．to pass the test given by the Germans |
| D．to get a job when they return home |
In early summer, one of the most popular fruit is strawberry(草莓). It is said strawberry is the "Queen of fruit" as it has many nutritious elements. But many people feel that the strawberry in the current market tastes different as many strawberries are artificially(人工地)grown and some even have a scent of pesticides(杀虫剂).So finding naturally-grown strawberries is a hot issue. There are some places where you can not only find tasteful strawberries, but also enjoy picking them.
Tianxing Strawberry- Picking Garden
As one of the biggest strawberry-growing areas, Tianxing is known for its healthy fruits. The strawberries here are pesticide-free with no artificial coloring. And now the farm has a special offer that you can get a kilogram of strawberries for only 12 yuan. Here, visitors can have fun picking strawberries as well as taste their freshness . And if you are a newcomer, you can get a discount card and enjoy an extra 20 percent discount on your next purchase.
Address: Xinzhuang Village, Xingshou Town, Changping District , Beijing.
Tel:13910667270
Taolin Strawberry Garden
This garden is not as famous as the first one, but it is a quiet place and relaxing. The strawberries here are much cheaper than those sold in markets. It only costs 6 yuan per kilogram.You can also buy freshly-picked lettuce and Tonghao, a green vegetable. You can have fun picking strawberries in person, but you can’t taste them for free.
Address: Linzhuang Village, Xingshou Town, Changping District , Beijing.
Tel: 010--88413840
| New Special Limited-Time Offers: Buy 20kg, Get 1kg Free |
Baihe Green Strawberry Garden
Baihe Town is the biggest strawberry-picking area. Known for the freshest and healthiest strawberries, this place is named as the "Hometown of Strawberries". The price for this fruit is about 12 yuan per kilogram. And you can bargain(讲价) with the local sellers for further discounts.
Address: Zhaotun Village ,Baihe Town, QingpuDistrict, Shanghai.
Tel: 13803456780People prefer naturally-grown strawberries mainly because ________
| A．they contain many nutritious elements. |
| B．they have a different scent |
| C．they are pesticide-free and tasteful |
| D．they are cheaper and bigger |
You should pay Tianxing Strawberry- Picking Garden________yuan if you buy 10 kilograms with a discount card.
| A．120 | B．108 | C．96 | D．60 |
Which of the following is WRONG about Taolin Strawberry Garden ?
| A．It is not better known than Tianxing Strawberry- Picking Garden |
| B．Besides strawberries, you can buy green vegetables from it |
| C．You can have fun picking strawberries as well as taste them as you like |
| D．If you buy 20 kilogram strawberries, you should at most pay 114yuan. |
Baihe Town is praised as the "Hometown of Strawberries" chiefly because _______.
| A．it is the biggest strawberry-picking area in the world |
| B．the place produces strawberries of high quality |
| C．the place is the home to strawberries |
| D．you will enjoy special prices because people there are friendly. |
What is the purpose of writing the passage?
| A．To adevertise Strawberry Gardens |
| B．To show the magic of strawberries |
| C．To tell the difference between artificially-grown strawberries and naturally-grown strawberries |
| D．to tell us the joys of picking and buying strawberries |
Children who drink alcohol with their parents are less likely to binge drink (狂饮)in later life, a recent report claimed yesterday.
The survey of 10,000 teens aged 15 and 16 found 75 per cent have drunk alcohol - but those who do it in moderation(适度地)at home are less likely to go on binges.
On the other hand, the findings contradict a recent call from charity Alcohol Concern for parents. Prof Mark Bellis, of Liverpool John Moores University, told Radio 4's Today programme that this would only make matters worse.
He said: "The key points are around people understanding alcohol, learning about alcohol, being set a good example by parents. Something that criminalises(宣布有罪) the parent is likely to stop these things happening."
Teenagers who bought their own alcohol outside the home were also more likely to develop problems such as drinking in public places, the report found. It advised parents to keep pocket money below £10 a week.
Prof Bellis, whose team carried out the survey in schools in the North West, added: "By the age of 14 the majority are drinking.
"The question is, are they learning in a proper environment or learning behind the bushes in a park or in a bar?
"The chances are if they are in the latter position, they are learning to binge drink easily."The author writes the passage mainly to tell us that________.
| A．Home Drink Kids don’t Binge |
| B．A Recent Report on problem boozers is announced |
| C．Parents are a good example for children |
| D．The prevention of binging drink is possible |
Which of the followings is WRONG according to the passage?
| A．The report says children who drink alcohol with their parents have little chance to become boozers in later life easily. |
| B．Prof Mark Bellis thinks the findings doesn’t help prevent binge drink |
| C．Children learn to binge drink in an advantageous environment as well as in a bad situation. |
| D．Prof Mark Bellis thinks that parents should be a good model for children |
Which of the following is the closest to the underlined word “contradict” in meaning ？
| A．are the same as | B．are similar to |
| C．think well of | D．disagree with |
Prof Bellis thinks the key to dealing with the problem is________.
| A．examples and understanding |
| B．education and punishment |
| C．lowering pocket money |
| D．law and advice centres |
We can infer from the passage that________.
| A．Parents should answer for those who binge drink |
| B．Drinking is a common and acceptable thing in Brtain |
| C．Well-behaved parents usaully don’t have children who binge drink |
| D．Teenagers who drink outside the home were more likely to develop drinking problems . |
Three weeks before the May Day holiday, Tong Zhuo, a 24-year-old computer engineer in Nanjing, started getting busy. He was trying to get in touch with friends on MSN to arrange a trip to the annual Midi Music Festival in Beijing during the holiday.
Although Tong failed in his job-hunt, he felt less frustrated after visiting the festival at the invitation of a friend. "It was the first time that I saw so many crazy people gathered together. When the music reached a climax, people kept yelling, jumping and bumping each other. You felt excited even if you weren't as high as they were," recalled Tong.
Midi, which is held May 1-4, started in 1999 and has grown into China's largest outdoor music festival. The festival is named after Beijing's Midi Music School, which started the event. This year's festival will have 84 bands, 22 of them foreign. It will be held in Haidian Park, northwest Beijing.
Outdoor music festivals have been around for decades in the West. They often stand for a kind of different belief. The Woodstock Festival in the US in 1969 is an example. It took place while the US was involved in the Vietnam war and was used to express young people’s love of peace.
China's Midi has become a good place for young people as well. "The biggest attraction of Midi is that it is an event for all young people, whether they know rock or not. They can come and have fun together," says Li Wei, a general manager of Beijing Midi Performance Company, the festival organizer.“ Besides，the open environment of an outdoor festival attracts young people. Without the restrictions of seats and walls, people are more likely to relax themselves. There's often more interaction between the audience and performers.”What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Midi Music Festival in Beijing |
| B．Tong Zhuo— a music lover |
| C．The joy of Midi Music Festival |
| D．The history of Mini Music Festival |
Before May Day, Tong Zhuo started getting busy because_______.
| A．he was very busy with his computer work |
| B．he was preparing for the Midi Music Festival |
| C．he wanted to attend Beijing's Midi Music School |
| D．he was busy hunting for jobs |
Which of the following statements is WRONG about Midi Music Festivals?
| A．Midi Music Festival is held every year in Beijing. |
| B．You can relax yourself as you like in the festival. |
| C．The festival is named after a school |
| D．Only those who know music can take part in the festival |
Which of the following is not the reason why Midi Music is popular with Chinese young people?
| A．full of energy and life |
| B．the open environment |
| C．freedom and interaction |
| D．its popularity in the West |
The Woodstock Festival is mentioned mainly to show that ______.
| A．westerners also like the outdoor music festivals |
| B．the festival has a long history and good tradition |
| C．young people can express their feelings through music festivals |
| D．people love peace and hate wars |
Less educated and less poised（沉着的）than his brother William, Britain’s Prince Harry has occasionally found himself on the front pages of some tabloid (小报) for the wrong reason. Harry has admitted drinking underage and smoking marijuana（大麻）in the past. In January 2006, he apologized after being pictured at a costume party dressed as a Nazi. But one thing he has been serious about is going to Iraq to fight with his fellow soldiers. After completing training last year, he demanded a chance to serve.
As a child he collected military toys and his bedroom walls were covered with posters of helicopters and tanks. Despite his youth, the army has always held a special place in his heart.
“There’s no way I am going to sit back home while my boys are out fighting for their country,” he said in an interview to mark his 21st birthday. “That may sound patriotic（爱国的）, but it’s true.” Perhaps this shows new strength in him.
Britain’s Defense Ministry announced last week that the 22-year-old Harry would serve a six-month tour of duty in southern Iraq.
Harry said he was “over the moon” and has insisted he wants to be treated the same as any ordinary soldiers.
In Britain, British Prime Minister Tony Blair described Harry’s decision as in keeping with his character. But in Baghdad, Iraqis described it as a public relations move. Harry has been the focus of attention in the past few years probably because of________.
| A．the identity as a prince of the UK |
| B．his bad habits and wrong behavior |
| C．his devotion to his country |
| D．his preference to the army |
By saying “Perhaps this shows new strength in him.”, the author means that Prince Harry changed his image by_______.
| A．taking an interest in military |
| B．apologizing for a Nazi uniform |
| C．being willing to serve in the army in Iraq |
| D．defending Britain against attack |
The underlined word “over the moon” in the Paragraph 5 means_____.
| A．very pleased | B．very sad | C．very frightened | D．very calm |
Which of the followings is NOT the reason why he insisted on serving in Iraq?
| A．He was more or less affected by his childhood’s interest |
| B．He has grown up and felt a sense of duty to his country |
| C．His strong character contributes to his decision |
| D．He wants to make up for his wrong actions |
In Iraqis’ eyes, Harry’s decision to serve in Iraq is_______.
| A．patriotic | B．political | C．friendly | D．personal |