For many years, a small percentage of homeowners have fixed solar panels (太阳能板) on their rooftops. Those panels collect some of the sun’s energy and either change it into electricity or use it to heat water. Until recently, the panels were too expensive for average homeowners, and their designs were not attractive. Thanks to new advances, however, solar panels for homes are becoming cheaper and less large and heavy. Now more homeowners are considering using them.
Stores begin to sell Solar panels
Last fall furniture retailer(零售商) IKEA began selling solar panels in its U.K. stores. IKEA has brought the DIY solar choice to the public. While shopping for furniture, shoppers could not add a box or two of solar panels to their shopping cart (购物车). IKEA is partnering with a company. The company deals with fixing and servcing of the solar panels on the roofs. So it is easy for customers to change from old energy system to solar system. If all goes well, IKEA plans to begin selling the panels in other countries soon.
Stylish solar panels
SolTech, a Swedish company, offers a really great solar-power solution. Instead of flat panels, SolTech covers the panels with a special glass tile. And the shape of the glass tile fits traditional tiled roof designs. SolTech recently offers solar systems that heat the home’s air or water. And it also offers one solar system that produces electricity.
______________
New technology has turned windows into solar panels. SolarWindow technology enables see-through windows to produce electricity after the glass surface is added with a special coating. Amazingly, SolarWindow can produce electricity in low-light conditons and can even turn indoor, man-made light into electricity! Since buildings are getting taller and about 60 percent of an office building’s surface is covered with windows, solar window could become a very popular way for people to produce energy and save money.
Turning your home –business-into a solar-powered one is a choice that’s becoming a lot more attractive these days!This passage mainly talks about ______.
| A．fashion shows | B．life in the UK |
| C．a technology | D．different opinions |
The reason why only a few homeowners used solar panels is that they are __________.
| A．cheap but heavy | B．attractive but expensive |
| C．light and small | D．dear and not attractive |
.The DIY solar choice has been brought to the public so that _______.
the IKEA stores can sell more furniture in the U.K.
it is possible to make more panels in other countries.
more people will choose to use a new energy system.
people can get solar panels for free after buying furniture..The best title for the fourth paragraph is __________.
| A．Making new kinds of windowns | B．Turning windows into solar panels |
| C．Changing our homes into panels | D．Adding electricity to the windows |
.The author’s attitude towards solar panels is _________.
A.positive B.negative
D.uncertain D.questioning
Cities and towns in 35 countries took part. The year 2012 saw 6,950 towns and cities in more than 152 countries took part in Earth Hour movement. Last year 7,000 towns and cities in more than 154 countries took part in Earth Hour. This year, WWF is calling for people across the world to take part in Earth Hour 2014 – the biggest switch-off in history.
For the eighth year, people are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour to call attention to the issue of climate change. The WWF’s organizers say climate change is one of the greatest threats(威胁) facing wildlife and nature. They also say when it comes to save energy and money, big changes start with small steps like turning out the lights.
Earth Hour supporter Jamie Oliver has some great ideas of his own for helping the environment: “We can all make simple changes to help, like always choosinghigher-welfare(规模化养殖的) meat, and even trying to have a couple of meat-free days a week. More little steps, such as taking a shower instead of a bath, leaving the car behind and walking to work, not leaving electrical appliances on standby（备用的） and so on are the beginning of a low carbon lifestyle and a healthier world.
This year, Earth Hour is asking people to take the movement “beyond the hour”. Earth Hour is a call to stand up and get involved. We hope everyone will join us in turning off for a brighter future.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?
| A．The first Earth Hour movement |
| B．History of Earth Hour and its tasks. |
| C．Earth Hour has changed our lives. |
| D．Everyone can make a difference. |
Which of the following is Wrong?
| A．The first Earth Hour started in 2007 in Australia. |
| B．This year people are expected to turn off their lights for over one hour. |
| C．For seven years , Earth Hour calls for action on climate change. |
| D．7,000 towns and cities in over 154 countries took part in Earth Hour 2013. |
According to the passage, all the following are small steps we can take Except_____.
| A．Turning off our lights in Earth Hour. |
| B．Taking a bath instead of a shower |
| C．Going to work on foot instead of by car |
| D．Choosing higher-welfare meat |
The best title of the passage is_________________.
| A．Climate Change: the greatest threat |
| B．WWF: a global charity |
| C．Earth Hour: small steps big difference. |
| D．Climate Action: a global call |
When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering(递送) milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer (自动换币器) fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a coin out of his changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese and other milk products. If we needed to change our order, my mother would write on a note-“Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery”-and put it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.
All of this was about more than convenience(方便). There was a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr. Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, as a result, making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch (门廊). Every time my son’s friends ask what it is, I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk. Why did Mr. Basille give the boy a coin out of his changer?
| A．To show his magical power. |
| B．To satisfy the boy’s curiosity（好奇心） |
| C．To pay for the milk. |
| D．To win the family’s trust (信任). |
What can be inferred (推断) from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy’s house？
| A．He wanted to have tea there. |
| B．He was a powerful person. |
| C．He was treated as a family member. |
| D．He was fully trusted by the family. |
Why is there no home milk delivery today?
| A．Nobody wants to be a milkman now. |
| B．The government has stopped it by law. |
| C．It has been driven out of the market. |
| D．Its service is becoming worse and worse. |
Why did the author bring back home an old milk box?
| A．He missed the good old days. |
| B．He wanted to tell interesting stories. |
| C．He missed it for his milk bottles. |
| D．He used it to beautify the back porch. |
Lemuel Gulliver enjoyed travelling. He was a ship’s doctor. On May 4, 1699, they were going to the Far East in the ship called the Antelope. One night, his ship crashed against the rocks, Gulliver was washed to the land. He found himself a prisoner（囚犯）of tiny people. They were less than 6 inches tall and lived in the island country of Lilliput. After he promised to behave well, they set him free and he could visit the city. The people of Blefuscu wanted to attack Lilliput. The king of Lilliput turned to Gulliver. He stopped Blefuscu attacking Lilliput by pulling its ships to Lilliput. The king was happy. He wanted to make the people of Blefuscu his slaves(奴隶), so he asked Gulliver to bring some more ships. Gulliver did not like this plan. The king got angry. Some bad men in Lilliput wanted to kill Gulliver. Gulliver had to run away from Lilliput to Blefuscu.
He was welcomed by the king of Blefuscu. They soon became good friends. Three days after that , he asked king to send him twenty of his largest ships and two thousand men to pull the boat to the shore. In this boat, he set sail for England.
On the third day he saw a big ship to the southeast. He called out to the ship. The ship was moving very slowly. They raised a flag .His heart was full of happiness when he saw the English flag . Why did Gulliver come to Lilliput?
| A．Because he enjoyed traveling in Lilliput. |
| B．Because his ship brought him to Lilliput. |
| C．Because the tiny people brought him to Lilliput. |
| D．Because he was washed to Lilliput after a ship crash. |
How did Gulliver help the Lilliputians?
| A．By fighting with them. |
| B．By stealing Blefuscuians’ ships. |
| C．By killing Blefuscuians. |
| D．By keeping Blefuscuians prisoners. |
“He wanted to make the people of Blefuscu his slaves”. Who is he in this sentence?
| A．The king of Lilliput. | B．The king of Blefuscu. |
| C．Gulliver. | D．One of the bad men. |
Which of the following is NOT the reason why Gulliver ran away from Lilliput?
| A．Gulliver killed some bad Lilliputians. |
| B．Gulliver felt he was in danger. |
| C．Gulliver didn’t agree to the king’s plan. |
| D．The king of Lilliput was unhappy about him. |
The Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors(年长者) have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1. How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
·Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
·Step： Remove the 300 types of bacteria(细菌) in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
2. How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
·Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their
hands only 4 times a day---half of the number which doctors recommend.
·Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs（病菌）to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3. How often do you think about fighting germs?
·Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
·Step： Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge（海绵）that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.What is found out American seniors?
| A．Most of them have good habits. |
| B．Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week . |
| C．All of then are fighting germs better than expected . |
| D．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day. |
Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands.
| A．twice a day | B．three times a day |
| C．four times a day | D．eight times a day |
Which of the following is True according to the text ?
| A．We should keep from touching our faces . |
| B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth . |
| C．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet . |
| D．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle . |
In the past, man did not have to think about the protection of his environment. There were not many people on earth, and natural resources seemed to be unlimited.
Today, things are different. The world has become too crowded. We are using up our natural resources too quickly, and at the same time we are polluting our environment with dangerous chemicals. If we continue like this, human life on earth will not survive.
Everyone realizes today that if too many fish are taken from the sea, there will soon be none left. Yet, with modern fishing methods(方法), more and more fish are caught. We know that if too many trees are cut down, forests will disappear and nothing will grow on the land. Yet, we continue to use bigger and more powerful machines to cut down more and more trees.
We realize that if rivers are polluted with waste products from factories, we will die. However, in most countries waste products are still put into rivers or into the sea, and there are few laws to stop this.
We know, too, that if the population of the world continues to rise at the present rate, in a few years, there will not be enough food.
What can we do to solve these problems?
If we eat more vegetables and less meat, we will easily get more food. Land that is used to grow crops can feed five times more people than land where animals are kept.
The world population will not rise so quickly if people use modern methods of birth control.
Finally, if we educate people to think about the problems, we shall have a better and cleaner living place in the future.
| The importance of |
|
| Problems |
◆ More fish are caught. ◆ More ◆ Waste products are still ◆ The population of the world keeps |
| Causes |
◆ The world is becoming too ◆ Modern methods make the situation |
| We human beings will not survive on the earth. |
|
| Solutions |
◆ Eat more vegetables and less meat so that more food will be provided for everyone, because there will be more to grow crops. ◆ Use modern methods of ◆ |