All around the world, shoppers flock to Wal-Mart to buy everything. In Texas, they come for another reason: to see the wind turbine(涡轮机), which supplies 5% of the store’s electricity. It along with other facilities, such as exterior walls coated with heat-reflective paint, makes this Wal-Mart a green giant.
The laws of economics suggest that Wal-Mart, with 5, 200 stores worldwide, influences everything including the price of all kinds of goods. It throws its weight behind environmental responsibility, and the impact could be amazing. “One little change in product packaging could save 1, 500 trees,” says Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott.“If everybody saves 1, 500 trees or 50 barrels of oil, at the end of the day you have made a huge difference.”
Scott wants Wal-Mart to do its part too. He has promised to cut the existing greenhouse-gas emissions(排放)over the next few years and promised to construct new stores that are more efficient. He wants Wal-Mart’s fleet of more than 7, 000 trucks to get twice as many miles per gallon by 2015. Factories that show Wal-Mart they’re cutting air pollution will get preferential treatment in the supply chain. Wal-Mart says it’s working with consumer-product manufacturers to reduce their packaging and will reward them if they do so.
Some people may doubt it is a bid to attract attention from Wal-Mart’s controversial labor and health-insurance practices. But it’s not just window dressing, because Wal-Mart sees profits in going green. Scott says, “This is a business philosophy, not a social philosophy. We don’t go where we don’t think there’s a great interest in change.”
Like Bill Gates, who started his charitable foundation, Scott happens to be promoting Wal-Mart’s image at a time when his company’s reputation is declining. He acknowledges that he launched the plan partly to shield (保护)Wal-Mart from bad press about its contribution to global warming. “By doing what we’re doing today, we avoid the headline risks that are going to come for people who did not do anything,” he says. “At some point businesses will be held responsible for the action they take.” Meanwhile, should Wal-Mart succeed at shrinking its environmental footprint and lowering prices for green products, both the planet and the company will profit. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A.Lee Scott is Wal-Mart’s CEO |
B.there are 5, 200 stores in the world |
C.Wal-Mart has a great influence on the world market |
D.Wal-Mart has more than 7, 000 trucks all over the world |
What does the underlined sentence “This is a business philosophy, not a social philosophy.” mean in the fourth paragraph?
A.Wal-Mart predicts huge profits in its green activity. |
B.Wal-Mart’s green activity is just window dressing. |
C.Wal-Mart aims to solve its health-insurance practices. |
D.Wal-Mart doesn’t have any social responsibility at all. |
What will Wal-Mart probably do in the future?
A.Reduce air pollution in its present stores. |
B.Give favorable treatment to its consumers. |
C.Ask the factories to reduce their packaging. |
D.Demand the fleet of trucks to use more fuel than before. |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Provide the background of the green plan. |
B.Stress the purpose of Wal-Mart’s green plan. |
C.Present the risk that Wal-Mart is facing nowadays. |
D.Analyze the similarity between Bill Gates and Scott. |
You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people could live to be 150, so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging(抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age!
You say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles(粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change clothes’ color or pattern.
You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says, “You shouldn’t drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk and it knows the milk is old. In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip.
It’s time to go to work. In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way, you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve. Such “smart technology” is all around you.
So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed.” says scientist Andrew Zolli. “it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example - what will be the next?
We can learn from the text that in the future __________.
A.people will never get old |
B.everyone will look the same |
C.red will be the most popular color |
D.clothes will be able to change their pattern |
What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A.Milk will be harmful to health. |
B.More drinks will be available for sale. |
C.Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information. |
D.Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer. |
Which of the following is mentioned in the text?
A.Nothing can replace the Internet. |
B.Fridges will know what people need. |
C.Jacket sleeves can be used as a guide. |
D.Cars will be able to drive automatically. |
What Andrew Zolli says indicates that _________.
A.successful new technology must break through what exists already |
B.what we have today is sure to disappear because of new technology |
C.all these things will be turned into reality without any difference |
D.the Internet has already been the best technology |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Food and clothing in 2035. |
B.Future technology in everyday life. |
C.Medical treatments of the future. |
D.The reason for the success of new technology. |
Our first winter in Canada was the happiest we have ever experienced. We were living in the countryside then and had just arrived from Hong Kong that autumn.
One evening in mid December snow began to fall. When we looked out of the window and saw that it was snowing, we all cheered. It was the first snow we had ever seen and we were excited. We could hardly wait for the snow to stop so that we could go out to play. Next morning when we woke up, it was still snowing. We switched on the radio and learned that more than ten inches of snow had fallen during the night and that since the roads were blocked(堵塞) there would be no school that day. We jumped up and down for joy and begged mother to let us go outside to play in the snow. She said we could go out after breakfast if we dressed ourselves warmly and promised to come back as soon as we felt cold.
When we went out, the snow had almost stopped. The roads, paths, gardens, and playing grounds were all hidden under a white blanket of soft snow. It was the most beautiful sight we had ever seen. Just then, we saw some neighbors’ children coming out to play. We ran over to join them. Together we built a snowman and a snow house. After that, we took turns sliding down a hill on a large piece of card-board. We were having so much fun when supper time came. Mother almost had to force us to go in and eat.
When did the children come to Canada?
A.Spring. | B.Summer. | C.Autumn. | D.Winter. |
The children all cheered when they saw the snow because _____.
A.they knew they would have no school the next day |
B.it was the first time they had seen snow |
C.they knew that winter had come |
D.they liked cold weather |
The children didn’t have to go school because______
A.their teacher were sure that children liked snow |
B.they wanted to play on the snow field |
C.heavy snow blocked the roads |
D.their mother allowed them to play outside |
When the children asked their mother to let them go out to play she ____.
A.immediately allowed them to go out |
B.refused to let them go outside |
C.told them to switch on the radio |
D.told them to wait until after breakfast |
The writer and his brothers and sisters built ____.
A.a snowman and a cardboard house of their own |
B.a snowman and a snow house for themselves to live in |
C.a snowman and a snow house with their neighbors’ children |
D.a white blanket on the roads |
There are rolling hills and ivy-covered brick buildings. There are small classrooms, high-tech labs, and green fields. There’s even a clock tower with a massive bell that rings for special events.
Cushing Academy has all the characteristics of a New England school, with one exception. This year, after having had a collection of more than 20,000 books, officials have decided the 144-year-old school no longer needs a traditional library. They have decided to give away all their books. The future, they believe, is digital.
“When I look at books, I see an outdated technology,” said James Tracy, headmaster of Cushing. “We’re not discouraging students from reading. We see this as a natural way to shape emerging trends and use technology. Instead of a traditional library, we’re building a virtual library where students will have access to millions of books on the computer. We see this as a model for the 21st-century school.”
Not everyone on campus is sold on Tracy’s vision.
Liz Vezina, a librarian at Cushing for 17 years, said she never imagined working as the director of a library without any books. “It makes me mad,” said Vezina, who has made a career of introducing students to books. “I’m going to miss them, and there’s something lost when they are done on a computer. There’s sensual side to them — the smell, the feel, the physicality of a book is something really special.”
Cushing is one of the first schools in the country to give up its books. William Powers, author of a book called the changes at Cushing “radical(激进的)” and “a huge loss for students”.
“There are modes of learning and thinking that at the moment are only available from actual books,” he said. “There is a kind of deep-dive reading that’s almost impossible to do on a screen. Without books, students are more likely to do the quick reading that screens enable, rather than be by themselves with the author’s ideas.”What is special about Cushing Academy?
A.It is built in rolling mountains. |
B.Its buildings are covered with ivy. |
C.There will be no books in its library. |
D.There is a clock tower with a big bell. |
The underlined sentence in the passage probably means _________.
A.not all people agree with Tracy’s idea |
B.Tracy’s idea is welcome in the school |
C.in Tracy’s opinion not all books are sold |
D.not everyone can imagine a virtual library |
In the opinion of Powers, actual books can make students _________.
A.do a lot of quick reading |
B.form the habit of reading |
C.enjoy the pleasure of reading |
D.understand the author’s views deeply |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Cushing is facing challenges |
B.The Internet library promises a bright future |
C.A library says goodbye to books |
D.Cushing leads the world in digital technology |
The impression you make at the beginning of an interview is very important. Employers often decide to hire someone in the first three minutes of the interview. They judge you by your appearance, attitude and manners.
A friendly smile when you walk into the room is important. A smile shows a confident and positive attitude.
When you introduce yourself, make eye contact with the interviewer. Some interviewers offer a handshake. Others don’t.
Try to be as natural as possible. But pay attention to your body language. The way you sit, walk, gesture, use your voice and show feelings on your face is all part of your body language. It makes the interviewer know how you feel about yourself and the situation you are in. Are you feeling positively about yourself? Your abilities? Your interest in the job?
Speak clearly and loudly enough. Show interest and enthusiasm in your voice. When you speak, look at the interviewer. Also, don’t say negative things about yourself, or former employer.
Listen to questions carefully. If you don’t understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or explain politely.
Almost everyone is nervous in a job interview. Interviewers know that. They don’t expect you to be totally calm and relaxed. But they expect you to try to control your nervousness. They expect you to show confidence in your ability to do the job.
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for her or his time.
It’s a good idea to send a short thank-you letter right after the interview, or deliver it by hand.
Phone the company if you have not heard anything after one week. Ask if they have made a decision about the job.
Good luck!It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A.the first impression is very important in an interview |
B.you should stand still with respect before the employer |
C.employers understand and like employees’ nervousness |
D.you should always put on a smile when meeting the employer |
We pay attention to our body language because _____________.
A.it is needed by our employer |
B.we need it to improve our feelings |
C.it can help us feel about the employer |
D.it can help us win the employer’s impression |
The main purpose of the passage is _______.
A.to suggest not being shy in an interview |
B.to tell right from wrong about job interviews |
C.to give you some advice on the art of finding a job |
D.to explain why we should do something about an interview |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A.A Friendly Smile | B.Making a Good Expression |
C.Don’t Be Nervous | D.Sending a Thank-You Letter |
Guitar Lessons for Guitar Players
Playing the same things over and over again when you pick up the guitar? Teaching yourself for years but you hit a wall? Don’t know what to do next? Whether you’re a total beginner, or an old guitar player, we’ll get you working on something you can benefit from. I’m a professional teacher, over 30 students at my studio in downtown Berkeley and several music schools in San Francisco, Alameda, and Mountain View.
No matter what style you’re into, I guarantee there are songs by your favorite bands that you could learn.
Call at 510-333-9091 or e-mail at bluescho0147@gmail.com
Dance Classes
In Motion Dance Center in Martinez is now accepting registration(注册)for all fall dance classes. There are classes offered in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary and Cheerleading. Classes run like the school year Sept through June. Prices are very reasonable at only $45 a month. That’s for a one-hour class once a week for a month. This studio is known for their younger child program. We are always looking for talented instructors too. If you want more information call Deena at 925-229-5678.
Qi Gong with Angie
Qi Gong is the perfect activity for anyone, at any age. It combines gentle movement and meditation(冥想), breathing regulation and relaxation. The exercises are designed to reduce stress and anxiety and improve blood and energy circulation(循环)throughout the body, therefore increasing immune(免疫的)function, improving energy levels and sleep.
Thousands of Qi Gong lovers around the world have experienced the extraordinary benefits of this gentle, ancient Chinese exercise form and are healthier and happier for it. Join us to experience the benefits for yourself!
WHEN: Tuesdays from noon—1pm
WHERE: Halanda Studio 1062 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125
COST: $12 per class drop-in(即到即学的)or $45 for a pre-paid set of 4 classes
CONTACT: Angie at angie@lokahiacupuncture.com, 408-887-600064. The purpose of the first advertisement is to ____________.
A.build a bridge between guitar players |
B.look for teachers for several music schools |
C.attract guitar players to attend music classes |
D.help guitar beginners to improve their techniques |
65. Who will probably contact 510-333-9091?
A.A music lover. | B.A Hip-Hop lover. |
C.A dancer lover. | D.A Qi Gong lover. |
66. Sarah and Jessie decide to attend the dance classes for six months. They each should pay _____.
A.$135 | B.$270 | C.$540 | D.$1,080 |
67. How much can you save if you pay for eight classes at one time before you join Halanda Studio?
A.$3. | B.$6. | C.$8. | D.$12. |