Humankind has tried to improve its standard of living since the very beginning of civilization. Back then, as well as today, providing food and security was the basic task for a person. However, nowadays the range of required goods has expanded significantly. People feel the need for not only some primary things, such as a piece of bread and a roof over their heads, but also for various facilities and luxuries. Providing humanity with these things is connected to the use of natural resources, which requires energy. In turn, the common sources of energy we use today cause pollution, so economic growth is almost unavoidably associated with environmental damage.
Economic growth is the increase in numbers of goods and services produced over time by an economy, and it is calculated in terms of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Before growth is calculated, inflation (通货膨胀)is adjusted in order to take into account its misleading effect on the price of goods and services. Economic growth can also be explained as the increase in expected output, which results from an increase in actual output, or total demand.
There are certain aspects of economic growth which affect the environment. The first of these is the fact that in order to produce more goods and products, at a faster rate, the construction of large industrial plants is required. These plants produce a lot of waste, leading to the pollution of water and the atmosphere, which may cause negative long term health effects to nearby populations of animals, or people. They also lead to global warming.
Industrial manufacturing leads to the constantly increasing energy consumption. The traditional energy sources, which are commonly used nowadays, are considered to be the greatest polluters to the environment. There also exist so-called eco-friendly sources of energy. They are sometimes preferred but replacing the traditional sources with them also requires time, during which people have to make some sacrifices to support these undertakings.
In order to produce economically practical energy, a sometimes significant transformation of the natural site is often inevitable. This is expensive and, has harmful effects on the environment. Application of wind energy would block airflows’ natural speed which is the reason for their decrease in strength, after crossing the windmill. Consequently, the pressure balance that is brought about by this current will be affected, and it is important to remember that the environment and weather conditions are directly affected by atmospheric pressure.
For these reasons, bringing about economic growth without any resulting environmental damage, whatsoever, is impossible.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. Pollution caused by plant construction. |
B. Effects of windmills on the environment. |
C. Economic growth and human civilization. |
D. Economic growth and environmental damage. |
What does the underlined word “They” in the third paragraph refer to?
A.Goods and products | B.The industrial plants |
C.Water and atmosphere | D.Negative health effects |
According to the passage, the author holds the opinion that ______.
A. economic growth should be calculated in terms of GDP |
B. use of natural resources causes no damage to the environment |
C. industrial manufacturing may cause damage to the environment |
D. a windmill is a perfect way to produce economically practical energy |
Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
Welcome to Adventureland!
Everyone loves Adventureland! The Parks and Exhibitions were built for you to explore, enjoy, and admire their wonders. Every visit will be an unforgettable experience. You will go away enriched, longing to come back. What are you going to do this time?
The Travel Pavilion
Explore places you have never been to before, and experience different ways of life.
Visit the Amazon jungle(丛林)village, the Turkish market, the Tai floating market, the Berber mountain house and others. Talk to the people there who will tell you about their lives, and things they make. You can try making a carpet, making nets, fishing…
The Future Tower
This exhibition shows how progress will touch our lives. It allows us to look into the future and explore the cities of the next century and the way we’ll be living then. Spend some time in our space station and climb into our simulator(模拟装置)for the Journey to Mars!
The Nature Park
This is not really one park but several.
In the Safari Park you can drive among African animals in one of our Range Cruisers see lions, giraffes, elephants in the wild. Move on to the Ocean Park to watch the dolphins and whales. And then there is still the Aviary to see…
The Pyramid
This is the center of Adventureland. Run out of film, need some postcards and stamps? For all these things and many more, visit our underground shopping center. Come here for information and ideas too.The Travel Pavilion is built to help visitors__________.
A.realize the importance of traveling |
B.become familiar with mountain countries |
C.learn how to make things such as fishing nets |
D.learn something about different places in the world |
If you are interested in knowing about what people’s life will be, you may visit__________.
A.the Travel Pavilion | B.the Future Tower |
C.the Safari Park | D.the Pyramid |
If you want to get a toy lion to take home, where will you most likely go?
A.The Pyramid. | B.The Nature Park. |
C.The Future Tower. | D.The Travel Pavilion. |
阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(不多于3个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
Rosa: Hi , Marta! It’s me, Rosa!
Marta: Oh! Hi Rosa! How are you? Is everything OK?How’s your family?
Rosa: Everybody is fine I’m just phoning to find out you are getting on in your new school in Scotland.
Marta: Oh, I’m OK. I’m (slow) getting used to all these changes. Things are so different here.
Rosa: Really? What’s biggest difference?
Marta: Well…Lessons are very different here. We don’t just listen or write in class. Students can discuss ideas in (group). We can ask more questions of the teachers and sometimes we even watch films.
Rosa: That (sound) good! What about your school day? Is it as long as here?
Marta: Oh no! In Scottish schools the days are (short). We finish at 3:30 every day. And we don’t work on Saturdays! That’s great, isn’t
?
Rosa: That’s fantastic! What about school holidays? Are they as long as in our country?
Marta: No, unfortunately, they’re not as long. But don’t worry, I’ll come back soon (visit) you!
Rosa: I hope so! I need to go now but I (phone) you again soon.
Marta: Bye, Rosa. Thanks calling me!
Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains. They are a branch of the great Appalachian family, and can be seen to the west rising up to a noble height and towering over the surrounding country. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their beautiful shapes on the clear evening sky, but sometimes when it is cloudless, gray steam gathers around the top of the mountains which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will shine and light up like a crown of glory.
At the foot of these mountains, a traveler may see light smoke going up from a village, In that village, and in one of the houses (which, to tell the exact truth, was sadly timeworn and weather-beaten), there lived many years ago, a simple, good-natured fellow by the name of Rip Van Winkle.
Rip's great weakness was a natural dislike of all kinds of money-making labor. It could not be from lack of diligence (勤劳) ,for he could sit all day on a wet rock and fish without saying a word, even though he was not encouraged by a single bite. He would carry a gun on his shoulder for hours, walking through woods and fields to shoot a few birds or squirrels. He would never refuse to help a neighbor, even in the roughest work. The women of the village, too, used to employ him to do such little jobs as their less helpful husbands would not do for them. In a word. Rip was ready to attend to everybody's business but his own.
If left to himself, he would have whistled (吹口哨) life away in perfect satisfaction but his wife was always mad at him for his idleness (懒散). Morning, noon, and night, her tongue was endlessly going, so that he was forced to escape to the outside of the house , the only side which, in truth, belongs to a henpecked husband.Which of the following best describes the Catskill Mountains?
A.They are on the west of the Hudson River. |
B.They are very high and beautiful in this area. |
C.They can be seen from the Appalachian family. |
D.They gather beautiful clouds in blue and purple. |
The hero of the story is probably ________.
A.hard-working and likes all kinds of work |
B.idle and hates all kinds of jobs |
C.simple, idle but very dutiful |
D.gentle, helpful but a little idle |
The underlined words" henpecked husband" in the last paragraph probably means a man who______.
A.likes hunting |
B.is afraid of hens |
C.loves his wife |
D.is afraid of his wife |
What would be the best title for the text?
A.Catskill Mountains. |
B.A Mountain Village. |
C.Rip Van Winkle. |
D.A Dutiful Husband. |
A few months ago, millions of people in London heard alarms all over the town. The Emergency Services, the Fire Departments, the Police, hospitals, and ambulances stood by, ready to go into action. In railway underground stations, people read notices and maps that told them where to go and what to do in the emergency. This was Exercise Flood Call, to prepare people for a flood emergency. London wasn't flooded. In 1928, people living in Westminster, the heart of London, drowned in floods. And in 1953, one hundred people, living on the eastern edge of the London suburbs were killed, again, in the floods. At last, Greater London Council took actions to prevent this disaster from happening again. Though a flood wall was built in the 1960s, Londoners still must be prepared for the possible disaster. If it happens, 50 underground stations will be under water. Electricity, gas and phone services will be out of action. Roads will be drowned. It will be impossible to cross any of the bridges between north and south London. Imagine: London will look like the famous Italian city, Venice. But this Exercise Flood Call didn't cause panic among Londoners. Most people knew it was just a warning. One lady said, "It's a flood warning, isn't it. ? The water doesn't look high to me."What topic is treated in this passage?
A.Possible Damages Caused by Floods |
B.Emergency Exercise in London |
C.Flood Emergency in London |
D.London Floods in History |
What measure was taken against floods in London in the 1960s?
A.50 underground stations were made waterproof. |
B.Rescue teams were formed. |
C.An alarm system was set up. |
D.A flood wall was built. |
The purpose of the Exercise Flood Call is to ______.
A.train the civil service for the flood |
B.prevent the flood from happening |
C.fill people in London with alarm |
D.prepare people against floods |
The author quotes (引述) 3the woman to ______.
A.describe how frightened most of the Londoners were |
B.argue that it's impossible to prevent floods in London |
C.show that most Londoners took Exercise Flood Call calmly |
D.prove that the Exercise Flood Call did cause a lot of trouble to Londoners |
On hearing the words "Just do it!", you will know there is a Nike product nearby. If it's "Always Coca-Cola", you can be sure someone wants to sell you a refreshing drink.
An advertising slogan is to a brand what eyes are to a person. The slogan helps people understand the brand better by telling them what it wants to sell to its customers. Good slogans leave a message inside people's minds. It's almost certain that every brand has a popular slogan.
Here are a few examples:
"Just do it!'--This slogan speaks out to teens. It tells them to do something, but only if they think it's worth it. And if so, why not do it wearing Nike?
"Always Coca-Cola.' Coke's slogans change every few years, but this one has enjoyed a lasting popularity because it shows the brand's spirit. It seems to say "Coke is the only drink there is; there are no other forms of drinks."
"Share moments, share life." This slogan from Kodak connects photos and beauty. It takes people to remember the happy moments in life by taking photos of them using Kodak film of course!What would be the best title for the text?
A.Just Do It! | B.Slogan And Brand |
C.Famous Slogans | D.What is a Good Slogan. |
Which of the following can best explain the underlined sentence ?
A.A good advertising slogan should draw people's attention. |
B.A brand should have an advertising slogan just as people have eyes. |
C.An advertising slogan is as important to a brand as eyes are to a person. |
D.An advertising slogan acts as the eyes of a brand. |
The word "them" in the last paragraph refers to ______.
A.people | B.the happy moments |
C.photos and beauty | D.Kodak film |