Ever wonder how this season’s celebrations affect the environment? Guest blogger Krista Fairles takes an amusing look at this very topic:
The holidays are a wonderful, cheerful time when most people wait for Santa to bring them presents. But I’m not like most people. I spend my time wondering just what the environmental impacts of Santa Claus and his reindeer are, and more importantly, how I can calculate those impacts.
Lately I’ve been particularly curious as to whether Santa’s old sled is a clean green flying machine, or if he should be replacing his 8 reindeer with an environmentally-friendly car.
I should mention that, surprisingly, I was unable to find statistics specific to Santa’s magical flying reindeer, so these calculations use numbers from various sources and may not represent actual pollution caused by Santa and his animals. In other words, don’t complain to the government about the damage Santa is causing the environment based on this article.
Santa’s yearly trip around the globe is 44,000km long, twice the average of a North American driver. If we assume that the magic provides the altitude for this trip, then reindeer power only needs to push Santa’s sled forward. To complete the trip in 12 hours, I estimate they must travel at a speed of about 3100km/h. To travel at this speed, for this length of time, the reindeer need to eat an incredible 980 million calories each!!
So the next question is: how much food is in 980 million calories? Well, if they’re eating corn, they’d need to eat 16,500 lbs each — or 1.6 acres of food. Growing 12.8 acres of corn has its own implications for the environment that we’ll leave for another calculation.
We now need to consider that during the global trip the reindeer are “letting out” some of that corn in the form of methane (甲烷，沼气). A resting cow produces 110 kg of methane per year, so flying reindeer would each let out about 4.8 tons. With methane causing 20 times the global warming damage of CO2, and the altitude increasing that damage by 1000% that another 20 times, we can put Santa’s round-trip emissions at 15,488 tons. This is much more than the 100 tons an environmentally-friendly car would release on the same trip!
Bad Santa.Which aspect does the writer NOT include in her analyses about reindeer’s influence on environment?
| A．Distance covered. | B．Calories consumed. |
| C．Tons of waste let out. | D．Money spent on food. |
According to Paragraph 6, how many acres of corn would Santa need to feed 10 reindeer?
| A．1.6. | B．16. | C．12.8. | D．128. |
Which of the following statements would the writer most probably agree with?
| A．Christmas celebrations are really a waste of money. |
| B．Vegetarians are more likely to survive than meat-eaters. |
| C．Raising animals has a negative influence on environment. |
| D．The car industry does less harm to environment than farming. |
Which of the following words best describes the language style of the passage?
| A．Humourous and concerned. | B．Cheerful and friendly. |
| C．Academic and formal. | D．Serious and boring. |
Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
| A．Is Santa driving clean and green? |
| B．Santa, watch where you’re going! |
| C．Santa Claus is coming to town! |
| D．Let’s reduce waste on Christmas celebrations! |
阅读短文，选出最佳答案。
If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault(过错). But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame(受责备), and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can’t read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering.
1. The main reason for one is poor memory is that _______.
A. his father or mother may have a poor memory
B. He does not use his name or legs for some time
C. his memory is not often used
D. he can’t read or write
2. If you do not use your arms or legs for some time _______.
A. you can’t use them any more
B. they will become stronger
C. they become weak and won’t become strong until you use them again.
D. they will become neither stronger nor weaker
3. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Your memory works in the same way as your arms or legs.
B. Your memory, like your arms or legs, becomes weak if you don’t give it enough chance for practice.
C. Don’t learn how to read and write if you want to have a better memory.
D. A good memory comes from more practice.
4. Some people can’t read or write, but they usually have better memories, because _______.
A. they have save much trouble B. they have saved much time to remember things
C. they have to use their memories all the time D. they can’t write everything in a little notebook
5. Which is the best title for this passage?
A. Don’t Stop Using Your Arms Or Legs B. How To Have a Good Memory
C. Strong Arms And Good Memories D. Learn From the People
阅读短文，选出最佳答案。
Nick Petrels is a doctor in Montreal. He works 60 hours a week. He takes care of 159 patients a week in the hospital and at his office. He’s been a doctor for ten years.
Dr. Petrels gives his patients good medical advice. But he doesn’t just tell his patients what to do. He also sings to them on television! Dr. Petrels has his own TV show. The show is in Italian, English and French. The doctor starts the show with a song and then gives medical advice. He explains a medical problem or disease in simple language. After that, he sings another song.
Dr. Petrels produces and performs in his own show every week. The program is very popular with his patients and with people who enjoy his singing. His dream is to perform(表演) in Las Vegas. His favorite songs are love songs, and he has a compact disk of love songs that he wrote. Dr. Petrels says, 
“I always loved to sing. All my problems are gone when I sing.” But when Dr. Petrels was young, his father didn’t want him to be a singer, so he went to medical school.
Some people tell Dr. Petrels he can help people more as a doctor. But Dr. Petrels says he helps people when he sings, too. “I like to make people smile. Sometimes it’s difficult to make a sick person smile. Medicine and entertainment(娱乐) both try to do the same thing. They try to make people feel good.”
1. Dr. Petrels works 60 hours a week, because he _______.
A. gives his patients medical advice B. takes care of 159 patients a week
C. sings on television D. has his own TV show
2. Dr. Petrels _______, so he is called a singing doctor.
A. has been a doctor for ten years B. always loved to sing
C. is popular with his patients D. also sings to his patients on TV
3. In his TV show, Dr. Petrel _______.
A. sings and gives medical advice B. sings about different diseases
C. starts to explain diseases with a song D. sings love songs he wrote
4. Dr. Petrels’ show is popular _______.
A. in Las Vegas. B. at medical school
C. with people who like his singing D. with patients in Montreal
5. Dr. Petrels says he likes to _______.
A. help people sing B. make people feel better
C. do the same thing D. make difficult people smile
阅读短文，选出最佳答案。
I Don’t Think I Wrote Wrong
Lao Yang was born in a small town. He liked reading when he studied at school. He thought the writers were respected(尊敬) and could get a lot of money. He wrote a lot of stories and posted them to the editorial departments (编辑部) but didn’t receive any answers.
Now he works in a factory. He’s busy at work. When he’s free, he always reads something. He always remembers he hoped to be a writer when he was young. One day, Xiao Ping, his ten-year-old daughter, came back. She looked worried and didn’t eat anything. She said Miss GAO, her Chinese teacher, told them to write a solicit article(征文) “My Father” that evening. But she did not kn
ow what to write.
“That’s easy,” said Lao Yang. “Let me help you.”
Then he sat down to write the solicit article at once. He easily finished it on time. He was sure Miss GAO would like it. But one afternoon he asked his daughter if the article had been chosen to post to the editorial department.
“My teacher said your article digressed from the subject(离题),” said the girl.
“I don’t think so,” Lao Yang shouted angrily. “I described(描写) just my father!”
1. Lao Yang wrote a lot of stories because _______.
A. he likes reading B. he learned much at school
C. he wanted to be a writer D. he wanted to help others
2. Lao Yang posted the stories to the editorial departments, _______.
A. and he got a lot of money B. and he became a famous man
C. and he was respected D. but he failed
3. As _______, Lao Yang decided to help his daughter.
A. he was a writer B. he was free
C. he wanted to realize his ideal D. he wanted to make his daughter happy
4. Lao Yang hoped _______.
A. his article could surprise the teacher B. his article could be chosen
C. the children could like his article D. everyone could soon know him
60. Lao Yang’s solicit article digressed from the subject _______.
A. because he couldn’t write it at all B. because he didn’t know his father well
C. because it was too bad to be chosen D. just because he described his father
A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen, commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer, actually increase the risk.
Researchers from the University of Iowa based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the association between sunscreen use and melanoma (黑素瘤). They said that they found flaws in studies that had reported associations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma
Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, which is increasing in incidence (发生率) faster than any other cancer in the United States.
But questions has been raised about sunscreen and whether it may has opposite effect, perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.
The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer--- people with fair skin and freckles (雀斑), for example--- are more likely to use sunscreen. As a result, it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.
The studies, which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied, said the new study.72. The underlined word “flaws” in the 2nd paragraph most probably means ______.
| A．evidence | B．facts | C．faults | D．failures |
73. People with fair skin and freckles .
| A．seldom use sunscreen | B．are more in danger of skin cancer |
| C．can be free from the harm of the sun | D．often expose themselves to the sun |
74. We can learn from the passage that ______.
| A．sunscreen users get skin cancer more often |
| B．the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen |
| C．the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers |
| D．the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America |
75. Which of the following can be the title for this passage?
| A．Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer | B．Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer |
| C．Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen | D．Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles |
The global energy crisis is approaching. What can we do? Here are some steps you can take.
Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid(电网). Just as t tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Clean or replaces filters monthly or as needed.
For central air conditioning systems and room air conditioners, look for the ENERGY STAR, the federal government’s symbol for energy efficiency. For central air, purchase the system with the highest possible Seasonal Energy Efficiency Raton. (SEER)
Use energy-efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning. Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating air. When used with air conditioning, fans allow you to raise the thermostat(恒温器) and cut costs. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so before you leave; turn off the ceiling fan.
Let a programmable thermostat! “remember for you” to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent. You can come home to a comfortable house without wasting energy and cresting pollution all day while you are at work.
Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort, make your home quieter and cleaner and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.
Gut your air conditioning load, and reduce pollution by planting planting leafy trees around your home and fixing reflective bricks on your roof.
Close blinds or shades on south-and west-facing windows during the day, or fix shading equipment to avoid heat build-up.
Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers. And use fluorescent bulbs(荧光灯), which provide bright, warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy, producing 70 percent less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs(白炽灯).
Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle. If you drive 12,500 miles a year, switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 mils per gallon to one that gets 30 mpg will save you more than ￡65 per year.
Carpool. The average U.S. commuter(乘车上班族) could save about ￡260 a year by sharing cars twice a week with two people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg---assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.According to the passage, the thermostat is used to ______.
| A．make rooms quieter | B．control room temperature |
| C．turn off the air conditioner | D．reduce room air pollution |
We can conclude from the passage that the author probably discourages ______.
| A．planting leafy trees around your home |
| B．turning off the ceiling fan before you leave your house |
| C．keeping your south-facing windows open during the day |
| D．using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs |
According to the passage, you can save fuel by ______.
| A．using energy-efficient ceiling fans | B．sharing cars with others on workdays |
| C．turning off everything not in use | D．reducing 10% of your car trips every year |
This passage is mainly about ______.
| A．energy-saving tips | B．fuel-saving tips |
| C．do-it-yourself tips | D．environment-protecting tips |