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! |
Most young people enjoy some physical activities. It may be walking, cycling or swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be a game of some kind, such as football, hockey, golf or tennis. It may be mountaineering.
Those who enjoy climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risks on high mountains? This astonishment is caused probably by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their leisure.
Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, such as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of a different kind which it would be too dangerous to ignore, but this freedom from man-made rules makes mountaineering attractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.
If we compare mountaineering and other more familiar sports, we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. Perhaps we should be mistaken in this. There are, it is true, no “matches” between teams of climbers, but when climbers are climbing on a rock by a rope ,there is obviously team work. The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of nature. His sport requires high mental and physical qualities. So we can also call it a “team sport”
A mountain climber continues to improve in skill year after year. A skier is probably past his best by the age of thirty, and most international tennis champions are in their early twenties. But it is not unusual for a man of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in the Alps. They may take more time than younger men, but they probably climb with more skill and less waste of effort, and they certainly experience equal enjoyment.
72. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. Differences between Golf and Mountaineering.
B. Sports and Games.
C. Mountaineering.
D. Why are so many people crazy about mountaineering?
73. The mountaineering can also be called a team sport because ____.
A. mountain climbers usually compete in groups
B. mountaineers depend on each other while climbing
C. mountaineering climbers are free to use their won rules to climb
D. mountaineering is a sport not a game
74. The biggest difference between golf /football and mountaineering lies in ____.
A. team game B. enjoyment C. age D. rules
75. In the author’s opinion, one of the most important reason why so many people enjoy mountaineering is that ____.
A. there are no man-made rules for mountaineers and people can join in at different ages.
B. mountaineering is a sport and not a game
C. it is one of the most dangerous sports
D. mountaineering brings us more enjoyment than other sports
Celebrities (Famous people) have joined college students around China in the latest government activities to protect the environment. The Great Wall was the focus of attention, with a clean-up of the surrounding area, and tree planting. The volunteers hope their actions can raise public awareness about environmental protection.
Lots of famous people take part in the activities. Familiar faces including film star Jackie Chan and TV host Yang Lan from Hong Kong were at the Great Wall. Over 200 college students joined them. They’re all volunteers for a government sponsored (主办) environmental protection program.
A latest government report warns, China’s fragile (易脆的) environment and limited resources could hardly support economic development in the next five to ten years. However, Chinese citizens have long neglected environmental protection. Organizers hope these young people will influence people around.
Pan Yue, vice minister of State Environmental Protection Administration，said, “The government can only make policy. But environmental protection also depends on public participation (参与). Public figures, ordinary people and the government should all join hands, thus we can make a beautiful and friendly environment.”
Around the country, over 10,000 college students joined their peers in Beijing ---- planting trees, raising awareness about water protection and cleaning rubbish from rivers.
From CCTV. com 13-28-2004 09:41
68.The underlined word “focus” in the first paragraph means ______.
A. the places of interestingB. old wall
C. activityD. meeting or centre point of light or others
69. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Recycling B. Water conservation
C. Planting trees D. Government officers
70. Which of the following statements is right?
A. College students get paid in planting trees.
B. Environmental protection depends on public participation.
C. Chinese citizens pay much attention to environmental protection.
D. China’s environment is in good condition
71. Which is the best title of the passage?
A. How to plant treesB. College students work at the Great Wall
C. Environmental protectionD. Volunteers protect environment
I never got along well with Dad. But when he was dying, I set off for Nebraska to be with him and my family. I stopped for the night at a hotel with a pool, hoping a swim would relax me.
The pool area was empty as I walked into the still water. A man in a bathing suit appeared. He sat on the edge of the pool with his legs moving up and down in the water. He had dark hair and deep brown eyes and smiled. ‘Where are you going?’ he asked. When I told him something about my father, he asked how we got along. I tried to change the subject, but then for some reason, I told him everything.
Finally the man said, ‘Even with all the trouble, remember, your father still loves you.’ All at once, warm and clear childhood memories came flooding back: Dad running alongside my wobbling (摇摆的) bicycle, the proud hug he gave me at my high school graduation, his laugh when I caught him off guard with a tickle(挠痒). ‘Yes, I know he does love me,’ I heard myself say. And for the first time these years I believed it. The man left, leaving me alone with my comforting thoughts.
Back in my room, as I went to bed, I decided it was time to forgive（原谅） my father. Then I wished he’d forgiven me too. The phone bell woke me up at 3 a.m. My sister’s voice sent a shock (寒战) through me: Dad had just died. I had wanted to see him and make peace. But as my sadness grew, I remembered that the man by the pool had already brought Dad and me together.
64. From the passage we learn that the author __________.
A. didn’t know his father was seriously ill B. always thought highly of his father
C. lived in Nebraska far away from his familyD. was going to see his father
65. When the author was in the swimming pool, __________.
A. many other people were there, too
B. he talked a lot with the man by the pool
C. he greeted the man by the pool first
D. the man by the pool told him everything about his family
66. What made the author change his original（原始的）idea about his father?
A. That he was made to think of the fact that his father loved him.
B. That the man by the pool mentioned(提及) his interesting childhood.
C. That he remembered his father had taught him to ride a bike.
D. That he knew his father would leave him forever.
67. In the last paragraph, the author was sad that he __________.
A. hadn’t accepted the kind stranger’s advice
B. had no chance to make peace with his father
C. hadn’t respected his father when he was young
D. hadn’t stayed with his father before.
Adventure in Africa
by Connie Lee Berry
Ages 7-9 85 pages Kid's Fun Press December 2007
Adventure in Africa is written for children aged between 7 and 9 and may just be my favorite book in the Incredible Journey Series. In this book the two main characters Max and Sam are taken to an African Safari camp. Even with all the care taken by the staff to ensure the safety and comfort of the camp, things do go wrong and the two brothers find themselves rescuing an elephant and their tour guide, while braving the native wildlife and habitat of Africa.
Adventure in Africa is one of four books in this series of fluent readers’ paperback travel adventure books by Connie Lee Berry. The font(字体) is quite large and there are roughly a dozen maps, images and pictures in the book, which will attract younger readers. As an extra attraction, the back cover of the book lists some activities for children to do.
The animal photos were exciting, especially when the boys were able to ride an elephant! The pictures on the cover look like regular photos of family vacations. A large, interactive （互动的） companion website (www.ijbooks.com) allows readers to join in activities, contests and a club.
The price of the book is only ＄3.95 (US) now,＄1 lower than before, and Adventure in Africa is a bargain. Hurry up to order one.
60. The book Adventure in Africa is written for _________.
A. all the readers B. young parents C. young kids D. high school students
61. From the first paragraph we get to know _________ of the book.
A. the general idea B. the design C. the author D. the price
62. The last word in the passage ‘bargain’ probably means ‘something _________.
A. cheap B. expensive C. useful D. priceless
63. The purpose of the writer is _________.
A. to tell readers something about Africa B. to ask readers to join in contests
C. to introduce the book D. to attract young readers to buy it
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文, 从56-75小题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Matt grows the best vegetables in the village. He grows fruit too—big, sweet apples and oranges. And what else? Well, the biggest and the prettiest flowers.
Things grow in Matt's garden all through the year. He cuts some flowers for his sitting room table; and of course, he eats some fruit and vegetables. But he sells everything else in the market. Matt is not a poor man.
He knows a few other gardens; but he does not have any friends. You might ask,“ What is that? Why doesn't he have friends?”
I will tell you. People do not understand him. And they do not understand his garden. “Why not?” you will ask. “It's a very good garden, isn't it?”
It is a wonderful garden. Matt plants things in spring, summer, autumn and winter. After that he does very little work. He sits in the garden with his small radio. And everything grows.
People ask, “How does Matt grow these wonderful things? He waters the plants sometimes, but he doesn't do anything else. He just sits under an orange tree with his radio. He listens to music nearly all day!” And that is all quite true. People cannot understand it, and so they don't like it very much.
Matt likes music. But what about the garden? Who does the work? I will tell you another true thing: the music does the work. All plants love music; and Matt knows that.
Do you want big vegetables and the loveliest flowers? Well, just give your plants a lot of music.
56. There are not only vegetables and flowers, but also_____ in Matt's garden.
A. plants B. fruit trees C. ants D. crops
57. Matt makes a living by_____.
A. selling his vegetables, fruit and flowers B. growing trees in his garden
C. working in the market D. helping other people growing plants
58. Everything in Matt's garden grows well because_____.
A. he has a good garden
B. he is good at growing things and likes listening to the radio
C. music helps his plants a lot
D. he is very hardworking
59. People don't like Matt because_____.
A. he doesn't give them any vegetables or fruit
B. they don’t like listening to music at all.
C. Matt doesn't let them listen to his radio
D. they are jealous of him