We know that the earth has become warmer over the last century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, reports that the average surface temperature of the earth has increased during the twentieth century by 0.6°+ 0.2°C.(The + 0.2°C means that the increase might be as small as 0.4°C or as great as 0.8°C). This may seem like a small shift, but although regional and short—term temperatures do fluctuate(变动) over a wide range, global temperatures are generally quite stable. In fact, the difference between today’s average global temperature and the average global temperature during the last Ice Age is only about 5 degrees C. Indeed, it’s warmer today around the world than at any time during the past 1,000years, and the warmest years of the previous century have occurred within the past decade.
We also know that human activities—primarily the burning of fossil fuels—have increased the greenhouse gas content of the earth’s atmosphere significantly over the same period. Carbon dioxide is one of the most important greenhouse gases, which trap heat near the planet’s surface.
The vast majority of climate researchers agree with these overall findings. The scientific disagreements that do still exist primarily concern detailed aspects of the processes that make up these largely accepted general themes.
You can think of this website as a window into the world of scientific research. In this primer, you’ll find a general discussion of the physical processes underlying the earth’s climate, an outline of the kinds of data that may shed light on how the climate is changing—and the role of human activity in these changes—and a description a some of the questions and uncertainties that researchers continue to explore. This primer is organized into four interconnected sections: the Atmosphere; the Hydrosphere(水圈); the Cryosphere(低温层); and the Biosphere(生物层).We know from the text that “IPCC”___.
A.engages in the climate and changes about the earth. |
B.is a group by scientists who like to walk around the moon |
C.works in the World Meteorological Organization |
D.often greets the passers-by from the outer space |
We know from the text that carbon dioxide ___.
A.is one of the most important greenhouse gases |
B.has fossil fuels |
C.traps cold near the planet’s surface |
D.exist in human activities |
From the text, we know when we say the temperature of something has increased by about 0.7+ 0.2°C, the + 0.2°C means___.
A.the increase might by as small as 0.3°C or as great as 0.7°C |
B.the increase might by as small as 0.5°C or as great as 0.8°C |
C.the increase might by as small as 0.5°C or as great as 0.9°C |
D.the increase might by as small as 0.4 C or as great as 0.8°C |
What would be the best title for this text?
A.What Are the Scientific Disagreements |
B.You Can Think of This Website |
C.What Do We Know about Global Climate Change? |
D.The Vast Majority of Climate Researchers |
According to Japanese media, about eight thousand people are dead and more than twelve thousand people are missing . More than 300-thousand people have been forced to leave their homes and more than 200 thousand are staying in public shelters.
According to Japan's nuclear safety agency up to 190 people may have been exposed to radiation from the Fukushima nuclear power plant(核电站).
According to Kyodo News Agency, more than 34-hundred buildings have been destroyed and at least 200 fires have broken out in cities across the country.
In northeastern Japan, power has been cut off in at least 5.5 million households, a million families are without water, and gas supplies have been cut off in nearly half a million homes. It is expected to be about 2 weeks before normal daily supply can be resumed.
China delivered10tons of bottled drinking water to Japan's earthquake-hit areas on Thursday in the country's latest round of relief donations sent to assist Japan's rescue and recovery efforts. The water, packaged in 800 boxes, was air-lifted from China's northeastern city of Changchun, Jilin Province, to Niigata in northeastern Japan on Thursday before it was taken by road to devastated Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, said Duan Yingli, a foreign affairs official with Jilin provincial government.
Funds and other forms of aid have flowed from the Chinese government and the public after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit off Japan's northeast coast and triggered an array of disasters, including a massive tsunami, last Friday.
China sent a 15-member international rescue team to Japan, while the Ministry of Commerce said it is providing 30 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian assistance.
The first relief package -- 2,000 blankets, 900 cotton tents and 200 emergency lights -- was delivered early this week.
On Wednesday, Beijing boosted aid to Japan by pledging 20,000 tons of fuel -- 10,000 tons of gasoline and 10,000 tons of diesel.How many parts can be divided according to the main idea of the passage ?
A.1 | B.2 | C.3 | D.4 |
How many people may have died in this disaster on March 11 ?
A.about 8000 | B.more than 12000 | C.about 20000 | D.over 500,000 |
What kind of forms does China aid to Japan ?
A. Funds and a rescue team
B. 30million yuan , a team of scientists and many goods
C. Water , food ,package , gasoline and diesel
Mea and vegetables are measured in grams and kilograms . Milk and other liquid foods are measured in liters or milliliters , These units only measure quantity : they do not measure the value of the food to the body . The unit which measures the quality or value of food is the calorie, the amount of heat given off by food when it burns . This measurement tells how much energy a certain food has when it is completely used by the body .
Our bodies use varying amount of calories . The more exercise we take, the more calories we burn . If we eat food which contains more calories than we use up , then it is possible that we would increase in weight . In order to avoid becoming overweight , it is advisable to eat a balanced diet and not to eat too many foods that have a high calories rating . The table below gives you some idea of the number of calories in food .
A. Meats |
B. Fruits |
C. Sweets and pastries |
D. Vegetable |
Slice of bacon 50 |
Apple 70 |
Small chocolate bar 190 |
60g bean 15 |
Hamburger 300 |
Orange 60 |
Large chocolate bar 225 |
60g carrot 18 |
Slice of beef 100 |
Pear 80 |
Slice apple pie 300 |
60g potato 60 |
Sausage 180 |
Banana 80 |
Doughnut 200 |
60g onion 25 |
Meat pie 500 |
Plum 20 |
Scoop of ice cream 85 |
60g cucumber 10 |
Sausage roll 350 |
Tomato 20 |
Bag of potato crisps 145 |
60g cabbage 15 |
Which is the best title of this passage ?
A.How to measure the quality of food |
B.Calories in foods |
C.The units of measurement |
D.How to keep fit |
How many slices of bacon equal the same number of calories as in a sausage roll ?
A.7 | B.6 | C.5 | D.8 |
To keep he calorie intake down , it is better to eat more ________ .
A.chocolate | B.meat pie | C.fruit | D.apple pie |
When do you need the most calories from your diet ?
A.When we sleep | B.In working in the fields |
C.While watching a play | D.After having sports |
With rising temperatures there’s concern for some freshwater fish. If the water gets too warm , then it can change their living activities .For some species in UK the river water needs to stay below 20℃. The problem is as the climate gets warmer so do the streams and rivers .The problem is particularly of concern for the smaller streams and rivers which respond to air temperature changes much more than the deeper and larger rivers .
The method to keep the temperatures of rivers down could be as simple as planting woodlands along the river course .Research has shown that trees cover lowland streams can keep water temperatures 5 ℃ lower than streams running through treeless environments .That 5 ℃ can make the difference between the water temperature being habitable for fish or being too warm for their living .
While it looks like a good method to a problem , there are things that need to be considered . We need to remember that trees are not the favorite habitat of all animals . Some of the habitats need open countryside . Trees can also bring their own problems .A nutrient poor stream has its own life . Plant trees alongside it and leaves fall in the stream. Falling leaves can change the nutritional makeup of the stream , which will affect the stream and local species of the stream . You have to be careful with this type of management, but his method does offer a real chance to help freshwater living things against climate changes and increasing temperatures.It can be inferred from the text that some freshwater fish ______.
A.have to live in the small streams and rivers |
B.never need to change their living activities |
C.are threatened by increasing temperature s |
D.are becoming rare and expensive in the UK. |
An easy method to protect freshwater fish is to ________ .
A.develop more different fish species |
B.explore lots of fish protection areas |
C.make streams run into the deeper rivers |
D.plant trees around the streams and rivers |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the method ?
A.It brings problems if the water grows warmer |
B.It needs little management . |
C.It has its advantages and disadvantages |
D.It is green but costs a great deal of money |
What’s the main purpose of the text ?
A.To help people know more about freshwater fish |
B.To introduce a method to protect freshwater fish |
C.To explain why freshwater fish lost their habitat |
D.To show how the weather affects freshwater fish . |
People often say that the Englishman’s home is his castle. They mean that the home is very important and personal to him. Most people in Britain live in houses rather than flats, and many people own their homes. This means that they can make them individual; they can paint them, and change them in any way they like. Most houses have a garden, even if it is a very small one, and the garden is usually loved. The house and the garden are the private space of the individual.
People usually like to mark their space. Are you sitting now in your home or on a train? Have you marked the space around yourself as yours ? If you are on the train you may put your coat or small bag on the seat beside you. If you share a flat you may have one corner or chair which is your own.
Once I was traveling on a train to London. I was in a section for four people and there was a table between us .The man on the space on my side of the table at all. I was angry. Maybe he thought that he owned the whole table .I had read a book about non-verbal communication, so I took various papers out of my bag and put them on his briefcase! When I did this he stiffened and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. I had invaded his space! A few minutes later I took my papers off his case in order to read them. He immediately moved his case to his side of the table. Of course, it is possible that he just wanted to be helpful to me!
If you are visiting another country you may feel that you don’t have any private space. Hotel rooms look much the same in every country in the world. All day long ,you share public spaces with other people. You see the local people in their private spaces and you feel lonely and “outside”. Local people can create their private spaces by talking about things you don’t know about .And you even feel that they like you to be outside them so that they will enjoy being inside even more! This is one of the difficulties of being a traveler !But if you understand it then it helps you .Haven’t you enjoyed being part of a group and “owning” a bit of space?The writer was angry as he was traveling on a train to London because______.
A.he had no place to sit |
B.someone had invaded his “space” |
C.too many people shared a section with him |
D.some other people talked about things he didn’t know about |
“… you feel lonely and ‘outside’” in paragraph 4 means that_______.
A.you are alone outside the house |
B.you feel lonely because you travel on your own |
C.you are alone and therefore you go outside to have some fun |
D.you feel lonely and you don’t belong to that place or that group of people |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.British people dislike marking their space. |
B.You always feel at home in another country. |
C.Most British people prefer living in houses to flats. |
D.You can’t mark your private space in a foreign country. |
Tha main purpose of the passage is to tell readers to _______.
A.own private spaces by living in houses |
B.have one corner of their own in public places |
C.realize the importance of “space” in communication |
D.create their private spaces by talking with local people |
After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me. I was told it would mean a great deal to him, so I agreed.
During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy (肌肉萎缩症). When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to five, and then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weights with me. When we had finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I had won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents telling me that Matthew had passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:
Dear Dick,
My mum said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live any more, but I still smile as much as I can.
I told you someday that I would go to the Olympics and win a gold medal, but I know now I will never get to do that. However, I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.
Your friend,
MatthewThe boy looked forward to meeting the author because _________.
A.he was also good at weight lifting |
B.he wanted to get to the Olympics and win a medal |
C.he was one of the author’s fans |
D.he admired the author very much |
The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that _______.
A.the boy never complained about how unlucky he was to have this disease |
B.the boy never complained about not being able to go to school |
C.the boy never complained why the author had never come to see him before |
D.the boy never complained about not getting a medal |
From the passage we learn that _________.
A.Matthew was an athlete |
B.Matthew was an optimistic and determined boy |
C.The author used to have the same disease as Matthew had |
D.Matthew became a champion before he died |
Matthew didn’t accept the author’s medal because _________.
A.he thought it was too expensive |
B.he was sure that he could win one in the future |
C.he thought it was of no use to him as he would die soon |
D.he would not be pitied by others |
What would be the best title for this passage?
A.A sick boy. | B.A special friend. |
C.A real champion. | D.A famous athlete. |