Not too long ago, our teacher, being a “tree-hugger”(as the kids call her), had us write an essay on an environmental issue. I was eager to start, but something made me stop.
“What is an environmental issue?” one kid asked. “What if we don’t care about the environment?” another complained. “It’s not like it affects me.”
These comments astounded me. I have always cared about the environment and assumed that others did too. From the surprised look on my teacher’s face, I could tell she felt the same way.
In no time, I finished my essay. In my essay I wrote about logging(伐木), which is an important industry, but if we continue to cut down trees without replacing, it will damage the environment.
There are so many things that we can do to save our world. Recycling, of course, is always a good thing, but not everyone has a recycling plant nearby (I don’t). There are other ways to help the environment. Plant a tree. Don’t waste water.
I can’t stand it when a person’s excuse for not caring is “Nothing is going to happen in my lifetime, so why should I care?” Sure, the chances of something terrible happening are slim, but I want people to realize that if we don’t deal with it, someone will have to eventually. Do you want that to be your children? Or your children’s children?
When my teacher told me to read my essay to my class, I was a little embarrassed because I didn’t want everyone to call me “tree-hugger”. I realize now that if being a tree-hugger means you care about the environment, I’m a tree-hugger 100 percent. I just wish more people were. Why do the students call their teacher “tree-hugger”?
| A．She likes hugging trees. |
| B．She knows a lot about trees. |
| C．She grew up in the countryside. |
| D．She cares a lot about the environment. |
At the beginning, the author stopped writing _____ .
| A．to ask some questions |
| B．because of other kids’ comments |
| C．to listen to the teacher’s instructions |
| D．because he had no idea about the topic |
The underlined word “astounded” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by “_____” .
| A．helped | B．changed | C．shocked | D．interested |
Paragraph 5 is mainly about _____ .
| A．what we can recycle |
| B．how we can save the earth |
| C．why we should protect the earth |
| D．what damage we are doing to the earth |
We can infer from the passage that _____ .
| A．the students don’t like the teacher |
| B．the teacher liked the author’s essay |
| C．the author is ashamed of being a tree-hugger |
| D．the author should have written a better essay |
It is reported that conservation groups in North America have been arguing about the benefits and dangers of wolves. Some groups believe wolves should be killed. Other people believe wolves must be protected so that they will not disappear from the wilderness (荒野)
For Killing Wolves
In Alaska, the wolf almost disappeared a few years ago, because hunters were killing hundreds of them for sport. However, 1aws were established to protect the wolves from sportsmen and people who catch the animals for their fur. So the wolf population has greatly increased. Now there are so many wolves that they are destroying their own food supply.
A wolf naturally eats animals in the deer family. People in the wilderness also hunt deer for food. Many of the animals have been destroyed by the very cold winters recently and by changes in the wilderness plant life. When the deer can’t find enough food, they die.
If the wolves continue to kill large numbers of deer, their prey (猎物) will disappear some day. And the wolves will, too. So we must change the cycle of life in the wilderness to balance the ecology(生态平衡）. If we killed more wolves, we would save them and their prey from dying out. We’d also save some farm animals.
In another northern state, wolves attack cows and chickens for food. Farmers want the government to send biologists to study the problem. They believe it necessary to kill wolves in some areas and to protect them in places where there is a small wolf population.
Against Killing Wolves
If you had lived long ago, you would have heard many different stories about the dangerous wolf. According to most stories, hungry wolves often kill people for food. Even today, the stories of the “big bad wolf'” will not disappear.
But the fact is wolves are afraid of people, and they seldom travel in areas where there is a human smell. When wolves eat other animals, they usually kill the very young, or the sick and injured .The strongest survive .No kind of animal would have survived through the centuries if the weak members had lived. And has always been a law of nature.
Although some people say it is good sense to kill wolves, we say it is nonsense! Researchers have found wolves and their prey living in balance. The wolves keep the deer population from becoming too large, and that keeps a balance in the wilderness plant life.
The real problem is that the areas where wolves can live are being used by people. Even if wilderness land is not used directly for human needs, the wolves can’t always find enough food. So they travel to the nearest source, which is often a farm. Then there is danger. The“big bad wolf”has arrived! And everyone knows what happens next.Some people are against killing wolves because ________.
| A．there are too many deer in the wilderness |
| B．wolves are afraid of people and never attack people |
| C．wolves help to keep the ecological balance in the wilderness |
| D．there is too small a wolf population in the wilderness |
According to those against killing wolves, when wolves eat other animals, ________.
| A．they might help this kind of animals survive in nature |
| B．they disturb the ecological balance in the wilderness |
| C．they never eat strong and healthy ones |
| D．they always go against the law of nature |
The last sentence “And everyone knows what happens next” implies that in such cases _______.
| A．wolves will find enough food sources on farms |
| B．people will leave the areas where wolves can live |
| C．farm animals will be in danger and have to be shipped away |
| D．wolves will kill people and people will in turn kill them |
Whatever field we are involved in，we always have to look for ways to expand our knowledge.An increase in knowledge in a particular subject can lead to a better understanding，grasp，judgment，intelligence and ability in that area.So how do we go about gaining knowledge?
I think people are the biggest source of knowledge for anybody.Right from childhood，we have learned things by watching others.Whatever field you want to gain knowledge in，there must be many who have experience in that field.So make use of this valuable source of information by learning from the experience，success，mistakes and skills of others. Study carefully and associate with people who are experts in the field you want to gain knowledge in.
The next best source of knowledge should be books.There are millions and millions of books in every language and on almost any topic imaginable.Whatever problem you are facing must have been faced by somebody else before，and its solution is likely to have been preserved in the form of a book.If you are serious about gaining knowledge about a topic，then read any book，magazine，article etc.You can lay your hands on the books related to that topic.Read as much as you can.
It is said that experience is a great teacher，so learn from your past experience and the experience of others.Learn from your and others’ past and present achievements as well as mistakes.
Experimenting with new things and observing new things can help you learn very quickly. Keep in mind，though，that while experimenting，you may encounter a few failures , too.Do not become discouraged as failures are a part of the learning curve，especially while attempting something new.Try to earn from failures instead of becoming disheartened.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to this text?
| A．Books are the biggest source of knowledge. |
| B．An expert can teach people everything useful. |
| C．Mistakes are the best source of knowledge. |
| D．People from an early age have learned things from others. |
If a person decides to learn about a topic，he or she should________.
| A．prepare well for the coming problems |
| B．experiment or observe as much as possible |
| C．read as many books related to that topic as possible |
| D．make friends with as many experts in that field as possible |
The author would NOT agree that________.
| A．experimenting with new things is the quickest way to learn |
| B．people can learn from their own experience and others’ |
| C．people can learn from both achievements and mistakes |
| D．failures teach people something |
This text mainly talks about________.
| A．the importance of learning |
| B．means of gaining knowledge |
| C．ways to become successful |
| D．the advantages of reading |
Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．
Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．
All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．
It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．
However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．The hotheaded are people who ________．
| A．spend more money than they have |
| B．spend less money than other people |
| C．save money |
| D．make money |
The disadvantage of credit cards is ________．
| A．to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash |
| B．to encourage people to spend more money |
| C．to be always useful in emergencies |
| D．to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty |
Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider ________．
| A．the amount of credit granted |
| B．the number and range of outlets |
| C．the possibility of loss of money |
| D．the department stores where you are going to use your credit cards |
The underlined words in the last paragraph probably means ________．
| A．floating with the tide of | B．going through a difficult period of |
| C．rising and falling with the tide of | D．attempting to go against the tide of |
Spring is the time to go out and enjoy the weather and scenery．Here are some events to attend in March of 2012 in Oregon!
Oregon Country Fair（OCF）, 9 am to 7 pm on March 8 - 10
OCF first started in 1969, and it’s blossomed into an outstanding example of what a non - profit should be. OCF is an event of shopping & atmosphere, and food ranging from Indian & Afghani cuisine to Italian & France cuisine．Wonderful craft & music never stop．From the time you get there until the time you leave, everyone has a smile on their faces, and they wave and say hello．For tickets, go and visit www．Oregoncountryfair．org．
30th Annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament, 8 am to 6 pm on March 12 - 14
The Annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament is an amateur tournament that draws amateur volleyball players to the small town of seaside, as well as AVP Team players who are the best volleyball players．In the past years, it has drawn more than 700 teams playing on over 80 volleyball courts．Just go west, and you can’t miss it．It is about 20 miles south of Astoria．To learn more about it, visit the website www．Seasideor．com．
Hood to Coast Relay, 3:30 am to 6:45 pm on March 26 - 27
The Hood to Coast Relay is a 200 - mile - long relay that consists of 15, 000 runners and 4, 100 volunteers．It’s the largest relay in the world, which goes from Mt．Hood to Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon．People of the Oregon coast fear Hood to Coast, because local towns and streets are flooded．There are audiences cheering riders on, and many people set up stations to give riders water．If you would like to get the race route maps, visit the website www. Hoodtocoast. com．
Other event information
To learn about other events, visit the website www. Aadfv. Blogspot. com．OCF covers the following EXCEPT ________．
| A．music | B．dishes | C．dance | D．artworks |
When was the first Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament held in Oregon?
| A．In 1982． | B．In 1986． | C．In 1988． | D．In 1992． |
If Lisa wants to learn more about an outing in Oregon, she may visit _______．
| A．www．Seasideor．com． |
| B．www．Hoodtocoast．com． |
| C．www．aadfv．blogspot．com． |
| D．www．Oregoncountryfair．org． |
Locals of the Oregon coast are afraid of the relay because ________．
| A．the relay will last a long period | B．they have to offer food and water |
| C．the weather is bad during the relay | D．too many people will go there |
What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metalwork or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is better to face any weakness than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic(认错的) about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The importance of working hard at school. |
| B．Choosing a career according to one’s strengths. |
| C．How to face one’s weakness. |
| D．The value of school work. |
The writer thinks that a student to have a part-time job is probably ___.
| A．a good way to find out his weak points |
| B．one of the best ways of earning extra money |
| C．of great use for his work in the future |
| D．a waste of time he could have spent on study |
From the passage we learn that if a student’s school performance is not good, he ___________.
| A．should pay more attention to learning skills and developing abilities |
| B．will be regretful about his bad results |
| C．may also do well in his future work |
| D．should restart his study in school |
From the last paragraph we know one should _________.
| A．make full use of one’s own weak points |
| B．study harder for a new school record |
| C．apologize for one’s own school record |
| D．face one’s own weak points bravely |