How could we have thought so wrongly of as banana peel that it always hits the garbage? Utility of anything seems to be in the eyes of the beholder. The banana peel hasn't been an exception.
What most of us looked at as waste was converted to a thing of utility by Prithwis Mukhopadlyay, a 14-year-old prodigy. This Bengali boy, nourished in the US, Lake Junior High in Woodbury, Minnesota, has come up with an idea to convert banana peels to biogas.(生物气).
It's well known that almost any organic waste can be converted to biogas. But why biogas from banana peel has hit the news is because it produced five times as much biogas as manure(粪), a commonly used source for producing biogas, in the experiments Prithwis conducted.
He filled two airtight containers, one with manure and the other with banana peels. Then he mixed each content with water and connected them to empty jars via pipes to collect the gas produced. He placed a heater next to each jar and measured the gas collected for 60 days. His studies proved that banana peels produced five times more biogas than manure.
This project titled 'Comparison analysis: Eco-friendly source of energy for the future,' earned him a spot in Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. This weekend, the young whiz is to showcase his research work along with 40 other finalists at Washington. "Initially, I thought of doing a project that would reduce global warming. Things changed after I visited a biogas plant in a village in India during my summer vacations. It was an amazing experience," Prithwis says.Why could Prithwis's finding receive the attention of the media?
| A．Because he is a prodigy. |
| B．Because he is of Bengali descent. |
| C．Because he used an extremely rare organic waste to produce biogas. |
| D．Because his research proved that banana peels can produce more biogas. |
Where did Prithwis derive his inspiration from?
A.Lake Junior High. B Discovery Channel.
C. India. D.His laboratory at home.This article probably appeared in a _________ magazine.
| A．gourmet | B．science | C．computer | D．fashion |
A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below 16℃．Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate．Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere, warming the rest of the world．Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world．
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources（资源）: land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals．This action affects the environment as a whole．For example, a lot of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳） in the air comes from burning the rainforests．People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit．
There are two main reasons for this．Firstly, when people cut down trees, generally they can only use the land for a year or two．Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply．
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store．More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests．However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value．It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s reducing rainforests．Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they ______．
| A．reflect more heat into the atmosphere |
| B．bring about high rainfall throughout the world |
| C．rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16℃ |
| D．reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth |
What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
| A．We will lose much more than we can gain． |
| B．Humans have begun destroying rainforests． |
| C．People have a strong desire for resources． |
| D．Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests． |
It can be inferred from the text that ______．
| A．we can get enough resources without rainforests |
| B．there is great medicine potential(潜力) in rainforests |
| C．we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land |
| D．the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns |
What might be the best title for the text?
| A．How to Save Rainforests |
| B．How to Protect Nature |
| C．Rainforests and the Environment |
| D．Rainforests and Medical Development |
OTTAWA—Canada's western city of Calgary is the world's best city when it comes to healthy living，local press reported Monday.
According to an international survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, a Londonbased consulting firm, Calgary was top of a list of 144 cities. It scored 121 points, just above Honolulu's score of 120. Helsinki and Ottawa followed at 119.5 and 118.5 respectively.
Three other Canadian cities came in the top 20. Montreal and Vancouver tied for ninth and Toronto came in at 18th. The scores are based on air pollution levels, availability and quality of hospitals and medical supplies, as well as the efficiency of waste removal and sewage systems.
In America, the lowest scoring city was Atlanta, which was ranked 76th. Athens was the lowest scoring city in Western Europe, ranking 120th because of its air pollution. London was ranked 59th.How many Canadian cities are in the top 20?
| A．3. | B．4. | C．5. | D．6. |
Which of the following is NOT taken into account when the cities were scored?
| A．Weather conditions. |
| B．Air quality. |
| C．Waste removal. |
| D．Medical supplies. |
Put the following cities in order according to the score in the survey. Which one is right?
①Calgary ②Atlanta ③Helsinki ④London
| A．①②③④ | B．①③②④ |
| C．①③④② | D．①④③② |
Eating Out with Kids
When you go out to dine with kids, you need to know the places where kids are not only welcomed, but really catered for (满足……的要求). Now we've listed some of the best familyfriendly restaurants and cafes.
| MUMU Crill It offers the perfect family dinner. The children can eat and then play in the park opposite the restaurant. Children will be kept amused by the kids'menus, which feature coloringin activities. Children are able to color in a picture of a cow with crayons. Business Hours： Monday to Friday：4 p．m. to 6 p．m. Saturday to Sunday：3 p．m. to 7 p．m. Tel：9460 6877 |
| Flying Fox Cafe It is located in a park in Mona Vale. Near the cafe is a fantastic fenced children's playground, famous for playground facilities including a bike track, walking tracks and a dog walking beach. Business Hours： Monday to Sunday：9 a．m to 4 p．m The weather can sometimes influence the closing time, however, if you are unsure, please call 9986 0980. |
| Billy Lids It is a unique environment where your child can play safely while you relax in the central cafe area. The indoor playground includes facilities for children up to 11 years old. There are plenty of food options for the kids, including homemade sausage rolls. Business Hours： Monday to Thursday：9 a．m. to 5 p．m. Friday to Saturday: 9 a．m. to 6 p．m. Tel：9916 0350 |
| Gladesville Bistro Welcome to our revolutionary kid friendly family bistro(小餐馆)—where your kids are welcome to play, draw, slip and slide. Our menu includes sandwiches and chips. Your children will receive a free cup of popcorn with every kid's meal purchased. Business Hours： Monday to Sunday：11 a．m. to 7 p．m. Tel：9816 4052 |
What can we learn about MUMU Grill?
| A．It has an indoor playground for children. |
| B．It is famous for homemade sausage rolls. |
| C．It offers coloringin activities to children. |
| D．It is located in the beautiful foreshore park. |
If your children would like to walk a dog, you can choose ________.
| A．MUMU Grill | B．Flying Fox Cafe |
| C．Gladesville Bistro | D．Billy Lids |
It can be inferred from the text that ________.
| A．Flying Fox Cafe only offers dinner to parents and children |
| B．the business hours of Gladesville Bistro are influenced by the weather |
| C．MUMU Grill offers free popcorn to children |
| D．Billy Lids does not offer service on Sunday |
In the early part of the twentieth century, racism（种族歧视）was widespread in the United States. Many African Americans were not given equal opportunities in education or employment. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was an African American woman who gained fame as a concert singer in this climate of racism. She was born in Philadelphia and sang in church choirs during her childhood. When she asked for admission to a local music school in 1917, she was refused because she was black. Unable to attend music school, she began her career as a singer for religious activities. In 1929, she went to Europe to study voice and spent several years performing there. Her voice was widely praised throughout Europe. Then she returned to the US in 1935 and became a top concert singer after performing at Town Hall in New York City.
Racism again affected Anderson in 1939. When it was arranged to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the Daughters of the American Revolution opposed（反对）it because of her color. She sang instead at the Lincoln Memorial for over 75 000 people. In 1955, Anderson became the first black soloist（独唱） to sing in the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. The famous conductor Toscanini praised her voice as “heard only once in a hundred years”. She was a US delegate（代表）to the United Nations in 1958 and won the UN peace prize in 1977. Anderson eventually triumphed over racism.According to this passage, what did Marian Anderson do between 1917 and 1929?
| A．She studied at a music school. |
| B．She sang for religious activities. |
| C．She sang at Town Hall in New York. |
| D．She studied voice in Europe. |
Toscanini thought that Marian Anderson_________. .
| A．had a very rare(稀有的) voice |
| B．sang occasionally in public |
| C．sang only once in many years |
| D．was seldom heard by people |
Anderson’s beautiful voice was first recognized________ .
A. at the Lincoln Memorial B. in Washington, DC.
C. in EuropeD. at the United NationsThis passage shows that Anderson finally defeated racism in the US by____.
| A．opposing the government | B．working for the United Nations |
| C．singing in the streets | D．working hard to perfect her art |
It’s obviously true that not all people like to work, but everyone likes to play. All over the world, men and women, young and old, enjoy recreational activities. So, beyond doubt, entertainment plays an important role in our daily lives. In modern society, there is a broad range of recreational activities—from online computer games to lovely picnics—that meet the needs of different groups of people. Therefore, it won’t be difficult for you to find some recreation to refresh your body and mind.
Recreational activities have a number of benefits, especially in this highly competitive society. They can help us relax, have fun and relieve stress. In fact, I believe there is no better way to get exercise and relieve stress than to take an active part in recreational activities. But can recreational activities do us harm? Of course they can. Let’s take TV as an example. There is no denying that TV offers access to the latest news and to useful knowledge, while providing us with entertainment. However, if we spend too much time watching TV, it will numb our mind and destroy our creativity, which is exactly the opposite of what we really want. What’s more, TV can also show some pornographic programs, which are absolutely unsuitable for us young students. So, just as the old saying goes, every coin has two sides, and watching TV is no exception.
As a student, I think recreational activities are very important for us. But this doesn’t mean we should take up whatever recreational activities are available. Instead, we should strike a balance between work and rest. We should have our own judgment, which means knowing what is good for us and what is not. And we should exercise self-control so as not to become addicted to them. I believe moderate recreational activity will benefit us in many ways and help us live a full, meaningful life.Why does entertainment play an important role in people’s daily lives?
| A．Because online computer games are popular with people. |
| B．Because entertainment can help people have fun instead of relieving stress. |
| C．Because people of all ages enjoy recreational activities. |
| D．Because it is easy and convenient to take up any recreational activity. |
Which of the following statements is not counted as the disadvantage of TV?
| A．People are addicted to watching TV. |
| B．TV provides people with the latest news. |
| C．Some programs are unsuitable for young students. |
| D．Spending too much time on it may destroy people’s creativity |
In the author’s opinion, what is the proper attitude to recreational activities?
| A．Spending as much time as we like watching TV. |
| B．Taking part in any recreational activities available. |
| C．Learning to control ourselves about entertainment. |
| D．Benefiting us by taking part in different activities. |