Businesses are witnessing a difficult time，which has in turn produced influence on consumers’ desire to go green.However，shoppers are still laying stress on environmental concerns.
Two thirds of customers say that environmental considerations inform their purchases to the same degree as they did a year ago，while more than a quarter say that they are now even better aware of the environmental effect on what they buy.
This may help to influence how shops store goods on their shelves.And the companies should still make efforts to become more environmentally friendly.Two out of three people think it is important to buy from environmentally responsible companies，with about one in seven saying that they had even decided to take their custom elsewhere if they felt a company’s environmental reputation was not good enough.
Harry Morrison，chief executive(主管)of the Carbon Trust，sympathizes：“I understand this situation where survival is very important now.But from environmental considerations，the clock is ticking—we don’t have much time.In addition，cutting carbon has an immediate effect as costs drop and a mediumterm benefit for the brand.”
Larger companies have an extra motivation to look at reducing their carbon footprint，as new rules next year will require businesses to buy carbon allowances to make up for their emissions(排放)．Those that have taken early action will have a head start.More than two thirds of consumers are not clear about which companies are environmentally responsible.This suggests that firms that are able to relay clearly their message to the public will be in a pole position to attract shoppers.
The Carbon Trust believes that it can help by informing customers about the good work companies are doing.“When companies are granted(授予) the standard，they can use a logo(标识) in all their marketing which makes it clear that they are working towards cutting emissions，” Mr.Morrison said. (2010·福建，C)What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Businesses are finding ways to send their message to the shoppers. |
| B．Companies will soon get information about cutting carbon emissions. |
| C．Firms are making efforts to encourage customers to keep goods at home. |
| D．Firms are urged to cut carbon emissions by shoppers’ environmental awareness. |
The underlined word “inform” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”．
| A．affect | B．change | C．disturb | D．reject |
According to Harry Morrison，businesses ________.
| A．will benefit from cutting carbon emissions |
| B．should buy carbon allowances for shoppers |
| C．are required to make up for their carbon emissions |
| D．have encouraged shoppers to take their custom elsewhere |
We can learn from the passage that businesses will________.
| A．have a strong desire to reduce costs |
| B．use the same logo in their marketing |
| C．gain advantages by taking early action |
| D．attract more shoppers by storing goods |
Winter is a very special time in Northern Norway. Winter also means skiing, and Narvik can offer some of the best skiing in Norway. The view and light change frequently and no two days are the same. For many people, the northern lights are an unforgettable sight, and in Narvik the sky is especially clear and great for watching at night.
The tourist season lasts from February to April, although May can be fascinating too, often with fantastic dry snow and an unbelievable light lasting well into the evening.
Ski hire
It is possible for adults and children to hire skiing equipment such as snowboards. All equipment is prepared for us. If you would like to book your equipment, please email Narvikfjellet.
Cross-country skiing
There are 12 kilometers of cross country ski run in Narvik. You need to bring your own skis as there is no cross-country hire. However, equipment can be bought at local sports shops in and around Narvik.
Off-piste skiing（非场地滑雪）
In order to explore Narvik’s off-piste opportunities you need to know the dangers when choosing routes. It is suggested that you bring necessary equipment such as a shovel（雪铲）and a GPS locator. Ask Narvikfjellet for an experienced guide. With a guide you can explore Narvik’s special off-piste areas in a safe manner.
Sometimes it is nice to do something different and not everybody enjoys skiing. Then you can go horse-riding, or visit the local museums.
Price examples for the 2012--2013 season
Time Children(8-15years) Adults
1 day NOK 230 NOK 325
3 days NOK 590 NOK 835
5 days NOK 815 NOK 1,170
7 daysNOK 970 NOK 1,375
Children 0-7 years can enjoy the service for freeIn Northern Norway, the tourist season may last ______.
| A．one month | B．two months | C．three months | D．four months |
What can we know from the passage?
| A．You can book skiing equipment through the Internet. |
| B．You are provided with skiing equipment for free. |
| C．Narvik is located in the south of Norway. |
| D．Narvik is open to adults and children over eight. |
If Mr. and Mrs. Smith stay in Narvik with their six-year-old daughter for three days in 2012,they should pay ______.
| A．NOK 1,160 | B．NOK 1,425 |
| C．NOK 1,670 | D．NOK 2,260 |
My Garden
-----by Nelson Mandela
In early 1977, the authorities (当局) announced the physical labour and arranged some kind of work for us to do in the courtyard. The free time also allowed me to hunt what became two of my favorite hobbies in Robben Island---gardening and tennis.
To survive in prison, one must develop ways to take satisfaction in one's daily life. One can feel fulfilled (充实) by washing one's clothes so that they are particularly clean. Just as one takes pride in important tasks outside of prison, one can find the same pride in doing small things inside prison. Almost from the beginning of my sentence on Robben Island, I asked the authorities for permission to start a garden in the courtyard. For years, they refused without offering a reason. But finally they gave in, and we were able to cut out a small garden in the prison.
The soil in the courtyard was dry and rocky. In order to start my garden, I had to remove a great many rocks to allow the plant room to grow.
The authorities supplied me with seeds. At first, I planned tomatoes and onions, because these plants did not require rich earth or constant care. The early harvests were poor, but they soon improved.
I began to order books on gardening. I studied different gardening techniques and types of fertilizers (肥料). For a time, I tried to grow peanuts, and used different soils and fertilizers, but finally I gave up. It was one of my few failures.
A garden was one of the few things in prison that one could control. The processes of planting a seed, watching it grow, taking care of it and then harvesting it offered a simple but long-lasting satisfaction. The sense of being the owner of the small patch of earth offered a small taste of freedom.Mandela's hobbies on Robben Island were ____.
| A．hunting and physical labour |
| B．gardening and tennis |
| C．washing his clothes |
| D．gardening techniques and types of fertilizers |
When did Mandela ask the prison authorities for the permission to start a small garden?
| A．Soon after 1997. |
| B．Some time in early 1977. |
| C．Almost as soon as he went to prison there. |
| D．Long after he went to prison there. |
Why did Mandela wash his clothes especially clean although he was in prison?
| A．To show he could do it as well as others. |
| B．To get some sense of pride and satisfaction from it. |
| C．To show others that he preferred to be clean. |
| D．To gain the authorities' permission to start a garden. |
Hard as he tried, he failed ____ at last.
| A．to get a sense of satisfaction and freedom |
| B．to grow tomatoes and onions |
| C．to grow peanuts |
| D．to get the same pride inside prison. |
Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants – those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.Farmland in Africa ________.
| A．is often small in size |
| B．can produce more than enough crops for Africans |
| C．is short of important nutrients |
| D．has got the attention of scientists around the world |
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that ________.
| A．Africa was going through a food crisis |
| B．most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small |
| C．there are not enough farmlands |
| D．farmers may grow additional crops on farmland |
The word“perennation”mentioned in this passage ________.
| A．is a farming method of planting food crops with trees |
| B．is a new farming method |
| C．can help African people produce more food than they need |
| D．is gaining widespread use around the world |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
| A．perennation will be widely used by farmers in Africa |
| B．American government will help African countries increase food production |
| C．African countries is short of farmland |
| D．some farmers are destroying their farmland in Africa on purpose |
This report is mostly likely to be a journal of ________.
| A．food | B．environment | C．agriculture | D．gardening |
The illegal ivory trade has been a major problem in Africa for decades. Poachers(偷猎者) and hunters have killed off hundreds of thousands of elephants to obtain this precious material. Now, affected areas are taking action. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced on Wednesday that key states where poaching takes place have promised to stop the ivory trade and protect Africa’s elephants.
In the 1980s, as many as 1 million elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory tusks. This continued until 1989, when the Convention on International Trade in Species (CITES) voted to ban all trade in ivory. With trade choked off, demand for ivory fell. Elephant populations slowly began to increase. However, this progress was short-lived.
According to the IUCN, 2011 saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal ivory trading in at least 16 years. Around 25,000 elephants were killed in Africa that year. Preliminary data from the IUCN shows even higher levels of illegal trade may have been reached in 2013. “With about 22,000 elephants illegally killed in 2012, we continue to face a critical situation,” said John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General. “Current elephant poaching in Africa remains far too high, and could soon lead to local extinctions if the present killing rate continues.”
At the African Elephant Summit, key African states where elephants make their home agreed to develop a “zero-tolerance attitude” towards poaching. The deal calls for maximum sentences for poachers and hunters, and increased cooperation between affected states. Officials are determined to classifying wildlife trading as a serious crime — and to making sure that the people who commit it are punished. All participants at the conference agreed to sign the deal. With these states coming together, there may yet be hope for elephants. (293 words)What’s the best title for this passage?
| A．New Hope for Elephants. | B． Elephants are dying. |
| C．Elephants are valuable. | D． How to protect elephants |
The underlined phrase “choked off” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “________”.
| A． appreciated | B． prevented | C． admitted | D． explored |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The CITES has helped to improve elephants’ situation ever since 1989. |
| B．Around one million elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory tusks in the 1980s. |
| C．The poaching and illegal ivory trading in 2011 were very serious. |
| D．The situation of elephants in 2012 was still terrible. |
All of the following measures will be taken to protect elephants EXCEPT ________.
| A．to identify wildlife trading a serious crime |
| B．to punish those who buy or sell wildlife belongings |
| C．to sentence all wildlife poachers and hunters to death |
| D．to work together to fight against wildlife hunting |
What’s the main idea of this passage?
| A．The illegal ivory trade has been a major problem in Africa. |
| B．Elephants in Africa may die out because of the illegal poaching. |
| C．Hunting elephants will be recognized as a very serious crime. |
| D．A new agreement aims to develop a “zero-tolerance attitude” towards poaching. |
Artie Shaw was born in New York City in 1910. His name was Arthur Arshawsky. His parents were poor immigrants who had come to the United States from Eastern Europe. His family later moved to New Haven, Connecticut.
At the age of fourteen, he began to play the saxophone and then the clarinet. From a very young age, Artie Shaw wanted to play his clarinet better than anyone. He wanted his sound and music to be perfect. He worked at this task much of his life.
He began working as a professional musician when he was fifteen. He left home and began playing in bands across the United States.
In 1928, young Artie Shaw traveled to Chicago, Illinois to hear the great trumpet player, Louis Armstrong. He immediately understood that Armstrong's great jazz sound was the beginning of something new and exciting. Artie left Chicago with a growing interest in jazz music. Soon after, he moved to New York City.
He got work playing the clarinet for the Columbia Broadcast System radio network. In 1936, he was given a chance to form a small group and play at New York's famous Imperial Theater on Broadway. His group was not the top band in the show. But the crowd loved his music. This proved to be a major step in his career.
Artie Shaw was always trying something new, something different. He heard a young black woman sing and hired her for his band. This was the first time that a black woman sang with white musicians. Racial separation was the rule in many states. Artie Shaw did not care.
Artie Shaw wrote several books in his later years. He wrote stories for magazines. He spoke about music at colleges and universities. But he had very little to do with the world of recording or music. During those years however, he received many awards and honors for his music. These included a Hall of Fame award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.When he was very young, Artie Shaw was ________.
| A．born to a wealthy family |
| B．a famous singer |
| C．a man with a great dream |
| D．was in love with music when he was a baby |
To achieve his music dream, Artie Shaw ________.
| A．first began to play the clarinet |
| B．wanted to be the most famous musician around the world |
| C．began playing in bands across the United States |
| D．became a famous musician when he was fifteen |
When Artie Shaw became an adult, ________.
| A．he showed a growing interest in jazz music |
| B．he worked for Columbia Broadcast System radio network as a singer |
| C．he formed a small band when he was twenty three |
| D．he thought that racial separation should be the rule of the society |
In his later years, Artie Shaw ________.
| A．almost stopped playing music |
| B．worked for a magazine as an professional writer |
| C．he made many speeches about his life at colleges |
| D．he received many awards and honors for his books |
Which one can be the title of the passage?
| A．Artie Shaw’s Life Stories | B．Artie Shaw — A Crazy Musician |
| C．Artie Shaw — A Great Writer | D．Artie Shaw’s Music Life |