Climate change is making it harder than usual for scientists to figure out what the future will bring and what impact weather changes will have on society and the economy. An upsurge of severe weather events has already destroyed homes, businesses and lives. Some fairly simple changes may reduce the toll.
In a laboratory test, a house built with conventional techniques is falling apart in hurricane-force winds.
The survivor has stronger shingles, thicker roof boards, and metal straps holding floors together.
Wind tunnel tests were done by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. It says stronger construction costs a little more, but holds up much better to extreme weather.
The growing number of unusually strong storms, like Typhoon Haiyan, has convinced the Chairman of the U. S. Senate Homeland Security Committee, Tom Carper, that extreme weather is the “new norm（标准）.”
"Extreme weather events have increased in frequency over the past 50 years and are expected to become even more common, more intense, and more costly," said Carper.
Hurricane Sandy hit beachfront businesses along the U.S. East Coast, including Carper's home state. Insurance companies had to pay out huge claims. To limit such losses, the insurance industry can raise premiums（保险费） for businesses in vulnerable（易受攻击的）locations and offer discounts to clients who make their buildings more resilient with upgraded construction techniques.
Managing risks is the job of insurance brokers like Kevin Connelly of the Graham Company, who spoke to VOA via Skype.
“We are either going to price your insurance at a huge markup, or we are not going to write (sell it) it at all, which is just as bad obviously," said Connelly.
Drought is another suspected consequence of climate change, and dry ground means more wildfires in California. Current mathematical models of climate change do a poor job of predicting the economic impact of drought and other weather events, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Robert Pindyck, who spoke via Skype.
“I think all we can do, taking all of that into account, is come up with some very rough numbers, very rough estimates, "said Pindyck. "Consensus estimates that maybe experts provide, that give us a view of what would the catastrophic outcome look like if we don’t do anything?”
To help deal with this serious problem, Pindyck says policymakers should take actions such as imposing a tax on carbon dioxide emissions. A carbon tax would encourage companies and families to use less energy and generate fewer of the gases thought to be driving changes in the climate. But other analysts say it is unlikely a new tax will get approval in the U.S. Congress any time soon. What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．There are many severe weather events destroying homes, businesses and lives. |
| B．Stronger construction will save the expense in the long run. |
| C．Government should be totally responsible for the weather change. |
| D．Typhoon Haiyan hit Tom Carper's home state. |
What natural disasters are not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Drought | B．Hurricanes | C．earthquakes | D．wildfires |
In a laboratory test , what kind of houses can stay up?
| A．a house built with conventional techniques |
| B．A house with stronger shingles |
| C．A house with thinner roof boards |
| D．a house with metal floors . |
What won’t insurance companies do to limit such losses?
| A．pay out huge claims |
| B．raise premiums（保险费） for businesses in vulnerable（易受攻击的）locations |
| C．offer discounts to clients who make their buildings more resilient with upgraded construction techniques. |
| D．price insurance at a huge markup |
What is the attitude of other analysts towards the new tax on carbon dioxide emissions?
| A．supportive | B．doubtful | C．indifferent | D．positive |
Fun is, in fact , a word heard far more frequently in families today than in the past , when “duty”and “responsibility ”were often the words used.Parents today are more youthful in appearance and attitudes. Their clothes and hair-styles are more casual, helping to bridge the divide. Those who are athletically inclined also enjoy Rollerblading, snowboarding, and rock-climbing with their children.
For the past three years, Kathy and Phil Dalby have spent at least one evening a week at a climbing gym with their three children. "It's great to be able to work together," Mrs Dalby says. "We discuss various climbs and where the hard parts are. Sometimes that leads to other Conversations. We're definitely closer."
A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles. The philosophy encourages children to describe their feelings about various situations. As a result, says Robert Billingham, a family-studies professor at Indiana University, "Parents and children began talking to each other in ways they had not before."
On the plus side, he adds, these conversations made parents realize that children may have important thoughts or feelings that adults need to be aware of.
But Professor Billingham also sees a downside: Many parents started making decisions based on what their child wanted. "The power shifted to children. Parents said, 'I have to focus on making my child happy', as opposed to 'I have to act as a parent most appropriately'."
Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow. Time-short parents encourage children's independence, making them more responsible for themselves. "They'll say, 'We trust you to make the right decisions' (whether they're ready to assume the responsibility or not) ,"says Billingham.
The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics (原动力). Some parents worry that if they tell their child no, it will hurt the child's self-esteem.What's the trend in parent-child relationship mentioned in the passage?
| A．Parents are chasing after fashion and ignoring the feelings of their children. |
| B．More parents and children are sharing the same enthusiasm for a certain sport. |
| C．Parents are taking more responsibility and setting more limits for their children. |
| D．The generation gap is narrowing and parents are respecting their children's thoughts more. |
Which of the following has NOT contributed to the change in the parent-child relationship?
| A．Younger parents. | B．Parent effectiveness training. |
| C．More working mothers. | D．The self-esteem movement. |
What's the best title for the text?
| A．Parents and Children as Friends. |
| B．Parents and Professors as Debaters. |
| C．Growing Mutual Understanding. |
| D．Disappearing Responsibility. |
| RESUME(履历) DOUGLAS V. FERNETTI Address: 636 Rugar StreetJoliet, Illinois60451 Date of Birth: June 5, 1960 Height: 6' Weight: 195 lbs. Health: Excellent Phone: 309 876 –0012 Married: Helen Son: Jim (2) EXPERIENCE 1978 to 1983:Joliet Bridge Company, Joliet, Illinois. Began as an learner and became accomplished journey-man pattern maker. 1983 to Present:Joliet Bridge Company, Joliet, Illinois. Promoted to Forman, Pattern Division. Responsibilities include the supervision of fourteen personnel, maintaining work schedules and making assignments, maintaining stock inventories, and supervising two learners. PERSONAL ACTIVITIES From 1979 to 1983 attended evening school in order to complete high school education. Received H.S. Diploma from the State University of Illinois in 1983. Since 1983 have attended evening classes at Joliet Community College. Have completed eighteen semester hours credit with nine hours in personnel management. Other activities include regular church attendance, member of ELKS, and help with Little League. PERSONAL STATEMENT Although I have been very happy at Joliet Bridge and have had excellent opportunity, it is necessary that I move my family due to my son's allergies (过敏症). In this respect, desire a position in the Southwest United States. Am willing to consider a position as a pattern maker, tool and die maker, or as a supervisor. My major attributes are my reliability and loyalty to my company and my ability to work with others. REFERENCES References are available upon request. |
What does Douglas do at present in Joliet Bridge Company?
| A．Pattern maker | B．Leader of Pattern Division |
| C．Member of ELKS | D．Learner |
What was Douglas doing in 1982?
| A．Working in Joliet Bridge Company |
| B．Studying at Joliet Community College |
| C．Helping with Little League |
| D．A, B and C |
Why does Douglas want to leave Joliet Bridge Company?
| A．Because he is not satisfied with his present job. |
| B．Because he has not been successful in the company. |
| C．Because he does not get along well with his colleagues. |
| D．Because his son is not used to the weather in Illinois. |
If you want to know the age of Douglas' son, what can you do?
| A．Write to 636 Rugar Street. | B．Telephone 309 876-0012. |
| C．Ask his wife Helen. | D．Find it in the resume. |
There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight. Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal(激素的) changes that increase feelings of hunger.
In one study, researchers in the United States examined information on more than 1000 people. The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders.
Some people slept less than five hours a night. They had 15 percent higher blood levels of a hormone called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours. And they had 15 percent less of the hormone leptin. Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry; leptin makes you feel full.
The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity in Western societies. They note the combination that sleep limitation is common and food is widely available.
The results were not affected by how much people exercised. People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy. But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods, so people gain weight. It seems that, for survival, the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.
Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study. They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is 7.7 hours a night.The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine . Internet users can read the full study, free of charge, at plos. org.Not enough sleep can cause obesity by ______.
| A．burning more of your energy |
| B．making you want to eat more food |
| C．keeping you from doing exercise |
| D．helping you feel great without food |
When you sleep 7.7 hours a night, you will ______ .
| A．have your ghrelin level rise and leptin level drop |
| B．have your leptin level rise and ghrelin level drop |
| C．have your ghretin and leptin levels properly balanced |
| D．have your hunger increase and your weight decrease |
You can read the findings________
| A．Only on the Internet |
| B．only in Medicine |
| C．Both on the Internet and in Medicine |
| D．Neither on the Internet nor in Medicine |
The very first capsule hotel to be opened in Shanghai has attracted many budget travelers with its prices, even though it is not fully operational yet.
The hotel consists of 68 "capsules", each 1.1-meters high, 1.1-meters wide and 2.2-meters long. The basic rate is 28 Yuan ($4.22) per person, plus an additional 4 Yuan an hour. The hotel also offers a package of 68 Yuan for 10 hours and 88 Yuan for 24 hours.
All of the capsules are imported from Japan where capsule hotels originated，and each is equipped with independent sockets, clocks, lights, TV and wireless Internet service. The hotel also has a public lavatory(洗手间)，shower room, smoking room and shared guest room.
"This is a huge bargain compared with other budget hotels in Shanghai," said Ta Zan, the owner of the hotel. Ta used to stay at capsule hotels in Tokyo during his undergraduate years and worked at a capsule hotel while he was doing his MBA in Japan in 2005, so he knows how they work and how to make guests feel comfortable.
He based the hotel on capsule hotels in Japan but he has made some special changes based on Chinese guests' habits. "In Japan capsule hotels are usually equipped with bathtubs, but in China people are more willing to take a shower, so we have the shower room," he said. He has also separated the capsules into three snoring (打鼾的) zones so that guests who often snore won't disturb others. Like most of capsule hotels in Japan, the one in Shanghai is for men only.
But the idea of staying in such a compact space is not appealing to everyone. "I feel the idea is like putting a person in a coffin (棺材), and the price is also not that appealing. A bed at a youth hostel in Shanghai costs about 60 Yuan per night," said Wang Lei, a student from Beijing. The first capsule hotels in the world appeared in .
| A．Shanghai | B．Japan | C．Beijing | D．America |
If you stay in the capsule hotel in Shanghai for 8 hours， you will have to payyuan.
| A．28 | B．60 | C．68 | D．88 |
What does the underlined word "compact" mean?
| A．Dear | B．Cheap. | C．Close. | D．Clean. |
The capsule hotel in Shanghai differs from those in Japan in that.
| A．it serves men as well as women |
| B．its capsule is much larger |
| C．it has a shower room |
| D．it has no snoring zones |
We can know from the passage that.
| A．everybody considers the capsule hotel a nice place to stay |
| B．all the capsules of the hotel were made in China |
| C．each capsule of the hotel has a private lavatory |
| D．no guest has ever stayed in the capsule hotel in Shanghai |
Perhaps the most famous theory, the study of body movement, was suggested by Professor Ray Birdwhistell. He believes that physical appearance is often culturally programmed. In other words, we learn our looks ---- we are not born with them. A baby has generally informed face features. A baby, according to Birdwhistell, learns where to set the eyebrows by looking at those around-family and friends. This helps explain why the people of some areas of the United States look so much alike, new Englanders or Southerners have certain common face features that cannot be explained by genetics(遗传学). The exact shape of the mouth is not set at birth, it is learned after. In fact, the final mouth shape is not formed until well after new teeth are set. For many, this can be well into grown-ups. A husband and wife together for a long time often come to look alike. We learn our looks from those around us. This is perhaps why in a single country area people smile more than those in other areas. In the United States, for example, the South is the part of the country where the people smile most frequently. In New England they smile less, and in the western part of New York State still less. Many southerners find cities such as New York cold and unfriendly, partly because people on Madison Avenue smile less than people on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. People in largely populated areas also smile and greet each other in public less than people in small towns do. Ray Birdwhistell believes that physical appearance ____.
| A．has little to do with culture |
| B．has much to do with culture |
| C．is ever changing |
| D．is different from place to place |
According to the passage, the final mouth shape is formed ____.
| A．before birth |
| B．as soon as one’s teeth are newly set |
| C．sometime after new teeth are set |
| D．around 15 years old |
Ray Birdwhistell can tell what area of the United States a person is from by ____.
| A．how much he or she laughs |
| B．how he or she raises his or her eyebrows |
| C．what he or she likes best |
| D．the way he or she talks |