One might expect that the ever-growing demands of the tourist trade would bring nothing but good for the countries that receive the holiday-makers. Indeed, a rosy picture is painted for the long-term future of the holiday industry. Every month sees the building of a new hotel somewhere, and every month another rock-bound Pacific island is advertised as the 'last paradise(天堂) on earth'.
However, the scale and speed of this growth seem set to destroy the very things tourists want to enjoy. In those countries where there was a rush to make quick money out of sea-side holidays, over-crowded beaches and the concrete jungles of endless hotels have begun to lose their appeal.
Those countries with little experience of tourism can suffer most. In recent years, Nepal set out to attract foreign visitors to fund developments in health and education. Its forests , full of wildlife and rare flowers, were offered to tourists as one more untouched paradise. In fact, the nature all too soon felt the effects of thousands of holiday-makers traveling through the forest land. Ancient tracks became major routesfor the walkers, with the consequent exploitation of precious trees and plants.
Not only the environment of a country can suffer from the sudden growth of tourism. The people as well rapidly feel its effects. Farmland makes way for hotels, roads and airports; the old way of life goes. The one-time farmer is now the servant of some multi-national organization; he is no longer his own master. Once it was his back that bore the pain ; now it is his smile that is exploited. No doubt he wonders whether he wasn't happier in his village working his own land.
Thankfully, the tourist industry is waking up to the responsibilities it has towards those countries that receive its customers. The protection of wildlife and the creation of national parks go hand in hand with tourist development and in fact obtain financial support from tourist companies. At the same time, tourists are being encouraged to respect not only the countryside they visit but also its people.
The way tourism is handled in the next ten years will decide its fate and that of the countries we all want to visit. Their needs and problems are more important than those of the tourist companies. Increased understanding in planning world-wide tourism can preserve the market for these companies. If not, in a few years’ time the very things that attract tourists now may well have been destroyed.The example of Nepal is used to suggest _________ .
A.its natural resources are untouched. |
B.its forests are exploited for farmland |
C.it develops well in health and education. |
D.it suffers from the heavy flow of tourists. |
What can we learn about the farmers from Paragraph 4 ?
A.They are happy to work their own lands. |
B.They have to please the tourists for a living. |
C.They have to struggle for their independence. |
D.They are proud of working in multi-national organizations. |
Which of the following determines the future of tourism ?
A.The number of tourists |
B.The improvement of services. |
C.The promotion of new products. |
D.The management of tourism |
The author’s attitude towards the development of the tourist industry is __________.
A.optimistic | B.doubtful |
C.objective | D.negative |
How often do you sit still and do absolutely nothing.The usual answer these days is“never”.or“hardly ever”.As the pace of life continues to increase,we are fast losing the art of relaxation.Once you are in the habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down.But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is fl natural part of everyday life.There is no way to avoid it, since it takes many and varied forms-driving in traffic,problems with personal relationships are all different forms of stress.Stress,in fact,is not the“baddy”it is often reputed to be.A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life.It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual.Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities.Others lose heart at the first sight of unusual difficulties.When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically.In fact we make a choice between “fight” or “fright” and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life and death.The crisis we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response.All the energy is shifted to cope with the stress.It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress.
Stress in some people produces stomach disorders,while others experience tension headaches.Since we cannot remove stress from our 1ires,We need to find ways to cope with it.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because.
A.they are working harder than they used to |
B.they are often too busy to find the time |
C.they are not clear of how to relax by themselves |
D.they are suffering from the effects of stress |
What is implied but not stated in the passage?
A.The art of relaxation can greatly help people bear stress. |
B.People in primitive days know certain ways to deal with stress. |
C.If one gets into the habit of relaxing every day he can overcome stress easily. |
D.Stress can lead to serious health problem if one is exposed to it for too long. |
The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 suggests that.
A.stress is not always a bad thing for people |
B.stress has a bad reputation of causing ill health |
C.stress is not so terrible as people often believe it to be |
D.stress is always harmful to people all the time |
According to this passage,which of the following statements is true?
A.Relaxation in life only benefits us mentally. |
B.Different people can stand different amounts of stress. |
C.All the stress can lead to poor performance. |
D.Large amounts of stress is important to people's lire. |
What is the writer's attitude to stress according to the passage?
A.Stress as well as relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body. |
B.Stress should not be rid completely from the life. |
C.Stress produces both positive and negative effects on people. |
D.People usually work better under stress if they are healthy. |
A baby born in India has been declared the world's seven billionth person by child rights group Plan International.Baby Nargis was born at 07:25 local time(01:55GMT)in Mall village in India's Uttar Pradesh state.Plan International says Nargis has been chosen symbolically as it is not possible to know where exactly the seven billionth baby is born.In addition to baby Nargis in India,Bangladesh,the Philippines and Cambodia have all identified seven billionth babies.The United Nations estimated that on Monday 31 October.the world's population would reach seven billion.
Populations are growing faster than economies in many poor countries in Africa and some in Asia.At the same time,low birth rates in Japan and many European nations have raised concerns about labor shortages.
Population experts at the United Nations estimated that the world reached six billion in October 1999.They predict nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century. China's population of one and a third billion is currently the world's largest.India is second at 1.2 billion.But India is expected to pass China and reach one and a half billion people around 2025.
India will also have one of the world's youngest populations.Economists say this is a chance for a so-called.demographic dividend.India could gain from the skills of young people in a growing economy at a time when other countries have aging populations.But economists say current rates of growth,although high,may not create enough jobs.Also,the public education system is failing to meet demand and schooling is often of poor quality.Another concern is health care.Nearly half of India's children under the age of five are malnourished(营养不良).
Michal Rutkowski,the director of human development in South Asia at the World Bank, says reaching seven billion people in the world is a good time for a call to action.He says,“I think the bottom line of the story is that the public policy needs to become really,really serious about sex equality and about access to services—to fight against malnutrition,and to provide for access to health services,water and schooling.”What is true about the world's seven billionth person?
A.Baby Nargis is not the only child chosen as the seven billionth baby. |
B.Baby Nargis has been chosen carefully so it is exactly the seven billionth baby. |
C.Three countries have all declared Baby Nargis as the seven billi011th baby. |
D.The United Nations declared Baby Nargis as the world's seven billionth person. |
Which of the following problems do many European countries worry about?
A.Labor shortage. | B.Poor health care. |
C.Not enough jobs. | D.Schooling of poor quality. |
According to population experts,how long will it take for population to grow from six billion to nine billion?
A.About 12 years. | B.About 40 years. | C.About 50 years. | D.About 110 years. |
What does the underlined phrase“demographic dividend”in the fourth paragraph refer to?
A.Possibility of lower birth rate. |
B.Benefit gained by working young people. |
C.Chances for more employment. |
D.Disadvantages caused by aging population. |
Which of the following public policies does Michal Rutkowski call on?
A.To encourage late marriage. | B.To reduce world's population. |
C.To gain economic equality. | D.To improve health and education. |
Like any good mother,when Karen found out that another baby was on the way,she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son,Michael,prepare for a new baby.They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl,and day after day,night after night,Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's stomach.
Finally,Michael's little sister is born.But she is in serious condition.With alarm in the night,the ambulance rushes the infant to the neonatal(初生的)intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital,Knoxville,Tennessee.The days go by.The little girl gets worse.The pediatric(儿科的)specialist tells the parents,“There is very little hope.Be prepared for the worst.”
Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot.They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby,but now they plan a funeral.Michael,keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister,“I want to sing to her,”he says.
Karen makes up her mind.She will take Michael whether they like it or not.If he doesn't see his sister now,he may never see her alive.
She dresses him in an oversized suit and marches him into ICU.He looks like a walking laundry basket,but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and shouts,“Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed.Never disturb patients here.”The mother rises up strongly and said,“He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!”
Karen leads Michael to his sister's bedside.He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.And he begins to sing.In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old,Michael sings:“You are my sunshine,my only sunshine,you make me happy when skies are gray...”Instantly the baby girl responds.The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.
The next day,the very next day,the little girl is well enough to go home! Woman's Day magazine called it“the miracle of a brother's song.”The medical staff just called it a miracle.Karen called it a miracle of God's love!
Never give up on the people you love.What may the underlined words“the infant”refer to?
A.The baby. | B.Karen. | C.Mary. | D.Michael. |
What do we know about the little sister after she was born?
A.She was driven to St.Mary's shop. |
B.A doctor came to see her in her house. |
C.She was very thin and couldn't speak. |
D.She was in great danger. |
Why did Karen firmly let little Michael see his sister in ICU?
A.Because he could make his sister alive. |
B.Because his sister would be sent to a far hospital. |
C.Because his sister was going to die soon. |
D.Because his father wanted to take him away. |
What do we know about the head nurse?
A.The head nurse was careful. | B.The bead nurse was rude. |
C.The head nurse was responsible. | D.The head nurse had no sympathy. |
What is the general idea of the text?
A.A boy's singing saved his sister's life. |
B.The little girl is well enough to go home. |
C.Michael's little sister is born with a serious disease. |
D.No children are allowed to enter the intensive care unit. |
In America,Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort:brilliant beaches,a lively boardwalk,plenty of restaurants and nightspots,and amusement rides sure to appeal to kids.Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season,when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild.
Meanwhile,some safety tips should be followed,enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers.
The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety:pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands.Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous.Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves.However,a calm ocean can become risky without warning.Make sure you swim near a lifeguard.Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Never swim alone.Many drownings involve single swimmers.When you swim with someone else,if one of you has a problem,the other may be able to get help,including signaling for assistance from others.
Don't fight the current.The facts show that some 80% of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents.These currents are formed by surf and gravity,because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach,gravity pulls it back.This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore.If you are caught in a rip current,don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore.Instead,swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax,then swim to shore.Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety.When coming to Virginia Beach,children can enjoy the happiness of the following except .
A.walking on the road made of wood | B.joining the nightspots |
C.having interesting rides | D.skiing in the sea |
Many people believe the best time to visit Virginia Beach may be.
A.after autumn school term beginning | B.in the slimmer vacation |
C.during the Christmas holiday | D.in the cold winter |
Swimming in the sea you'd better not swim.
A.with a friend | B.within the sight of the lifeguard |
C.with the current | D.as far as you like |
From the passage,we can know.
A.one in five persons swimming in the sea is drowned |
B.if one with lifeguard were drowning,five persons without lifeguard would be |
C.some 80%people drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards |
D.some 20%drowning by the currents are rescued by life guards |
The passage mainly tells us.
A.some safety tips when swimming in the sea |
B.the happiness and excitement the beach offers |
C.Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort |
D.the dangers for tourists from land-locked regions to swim in the sea |
The United States is the world's largest consumer of energy. We use electricity, gas and oil to light and heat our buildings and run our cars. The demand for power is growing. But we may not need to build new power plants or find more oil. The best way to increase our supply of energy is to be more efficient.
Did you know that when you leave your video-game console (游戏机操纵台) on, it consumes more electricity than two refrigerators? Or that those funny-looking, twisty bulbs (灯泡) use 75% less power than traditional light bulbs? We have the tools to save money, reduce pollution and even help our planet, simply by wasting less energy.
As President, Barack Obama plans to make energy efficiency in American a major goal. He has promised to cut 15% of all energy used by the Federal Government. In a speech, he called for 75% of government office buildings to be updated for better efficiency. He pointed out that energy-efficient buildings and homes will save consumers billions of dollars on energy bills. An “extra benefit”, he added, will be “a cleaner, safer planet.”
Gas, coal and oil are called fossil fuels. Fossil fuels have been the world's main source of energy for hundreds of years. But burning them releases dirty gases, which cause pollution.
There are two main ways to save energy. The first is to use more efficient machines. Hybrid cars use less gas. New appliances are designed to use less electricity. Today's refrigerators are three times more efficient than those before 1973. Laptop computers consume much less energy than desktop computers.
The second is to use machines more productively. According to the US Department of Energy, in the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power electronic equipment is standby power (备用电源) . That means power flowing to plugged-in appliances whether or not they are being used.
Homeowners can avoid wasting power by pulling the plug on appliances when they are not in use. Efficiency experts argue that today's best techniques could cut US oil and gas use in half, and reduce our electricity use by three-fourths.By referring to Obama's plan, the author mainly intended to say that _______
A.the US government office buildings have wasted the most energy |
B.Obama has decided to take the lead to cut down the use of electricity |
C.it is time for the US to shoulder the responsibility for a cleaner planet |
D.the US is determined to improve energy efficiency in the whole America |
It can be inferred from the text that ________.
A.to build new power plants or find more oil is no longer useful |
B.burning fossil fuels can lead to a growing demand for power |
C.everyone can make a difference by wasting less energy |
D.most of the electricity is wasted with appliances plugged-in |
What would be the best title for the text?
A.The world's largest consumer of energy |
B.The world's energy efficiency movement |
C.We need to find new energy |
D.We have to be more energy efficient |