I love seeing Europeans line up in airports to applaud arriving refugees. But humanitarianism (人道主义) will not guide policy for long. We liberals need to argue from Europe’s self-interest: our continent has the need, the space and the ability to accept people.
Many European countries are gradually turning into old people’s homes. Germany, Italy, Spain and others have some of the lowest birth rates in human history. It is predicted that about one-third of their populations will be aged over 65 in 2050. Germany needs to import at least 350,000 people a year to keep its workforce stable. Suddenly, young ambitious workers are pouring into the country as if called by a genie (精灵) with a lamp. No wonder Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, has been more welcoming than David Cameron, British Prime Minister. But all over Europe, carers for old people are already in need. Norway found oil under the seabed but it would have been better off if it had discovered 50,000 nurses there instead.
Many rightwingers think we have reached our limits. This feeling is widespread. And it’s true that Western Europe is one of the most densely populated regions on earth. Indeed, density has long been Europe’s unique selling point: with so many people of different nations closely packed together, we have always traded goods and exchanged ideas fast. That’s why the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries happened here.
But we have plenty more room. Many European cities aren’t dense enough. Now east Germany, north-western Spain and gorgeous mountain villages in Italy are losing people. Lots of cities have unused industrial land.
Humans inhabit a slice of the EU’s territory. Only about 2.5 per cent of the EU’s land is used for housing, estimates the European Commission. By contrast, a whopping 43 per cent was used for agriculture in 2009, it says. That’s too much. We could turn more land into forest or into green landscapes where people can relax and play. Making that transition is feasible because we now use agricultural land inefficiently.
Migrants often spend years locked up together in serious government-funded “migrant centers”. However, the way to learn a new country’s language, make friends and find work is to live with a local. This crisis has shown that lots of Europeans are willing to take refugees into their homes. After Iceland’s government said it could take only 50 Syrian refugees, many Icelanders came forward offering to take a far greater number into their own homes. People aren’t just sitting around waiting for government to do something.
We need migrants, and we can accommodate them. If opponents just don’t like foreigners, they should say so instead of pretending to be hardheaded pragmatists (实用主义者).Why is Angela Merkel willing to take in refugees according to the passage?
| A．Germany has already stepped into aged society. |
| B．Birth rates in Germany are the lowest in history. |
| C．She is kind and shows sympathy for homeless people. |
| D．Refugees can make up the shortage of labor in Germany. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．No other region is more densely populated than Western Europe. |
| B．Density has become Europe’s most outstanding characteristic. |
| C．All European cities are not crowded together in great numbers. |
| D．Large quantities of unused industrial land will turn into forest. |
It can be inferred that _______.
| A．nurses are more badly needed than petrol in Europe |
| B．liberals always do something for the Europe’s benefit |
| C．aging problem in Germany is the worst in Europe |
| D．Europeans have already made intelligent use of the land |
What is the last paragraph but one mainly about?
| A．Migrants can privately be accommodated. |
| B．Migrants had better not live in migrant centers. |
| C．Everyone can live with migrants to help them fit in. |
| D．Everyone has done their own part to help migrants. |
四、阅读理解(每小题2分，共30分)
A
You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world’s temperature. But, rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation(撤离) of an island nation—the citizens of Tuvalu will have to have their homeland.
During the 20th century, sea level rose 8-12 inches. As a result, Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country’s drinking water.
Paani Laupepa, a Tuvaluan government official, reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years. Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms.
Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions(导致温室效应的气体排放), which are a main cause of global warming. “By refusing to sign the agreement, the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.
Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries.
Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable(易受影响的) to rising sea levels. Maumoon Gayoon, president of the Maldives, told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an “endangered nation”.
56. The text is mainly abou_________ .
A. rapid changes in earth’s temperature
B. bad effects of global warming
C. moving of a country to a new place
D. reasons for lowland flooding
57. According to scientists, the DIRECT cause of more and fiercer storms is________.
A. greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations
B. higher surface water temperatures of the sea
C. continuous global warming
D. rising sea levels
58. Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not_______.
A. agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions
B. sign an agreement with Tuvalu
C. allow Tuvaluans to move to the US
D. believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real
E
The earth is getting warmer. The planet is suffering. But what can you do about it? Reduce the amount of waste you generate. Use cleaner energy sources and go greener today, starting with these steps:
1. Get a reusable water bottle
Americans buy about 25 billion single-serving plastic water bottles each year. That's an average of 83 bottles per person per year. Plastic bottles take plenty of resources to produce, including fuel for transportation and petroleum to make the plastic. Even recycling bottles uses energy.
2. Eat less meat
You don't need to become a vegetarian to help save the planet. Eating meat just one day less a week can reduce your negative impact on the environment. More water, energy and land are required to produce meat than to produce grain.
3. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs
Most households use standard incandescent (白炽的) bulbs. But compact fluorescent (荧光的) light bulbs, or CFLs, use 66 percent less energy than standard bulbs, produce just as much light, last up to 10 times longer and don't need to be replaced as often. If every household in the United States replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL bulb, it would equal removing one million cars from the road.
4. Buy organic and local food
Did you know that only 1 percent of pesticides (杀虫剂) applied to crops reach the pests they target? The rest enter the environment. Organic food is grown without the use of pesticides. Organic farming can use 50 percent less energy than traditional farming methods. Buying local food saves on the fuel used to transport food grown elsewhere, thousands of miles across the country or around the world.
5. Recycle your electronics
Everyone knows the importance of recycling glass and plastic, but what about cell phones, computers, CDs and batteries? Electronics are responsible for about 40 percent of toxic (有毒的) heavy metals such as lead and mercury. Check with your city's recycling facilities to see if they take electronics.
72. The readers of this passage are called on to ______.
A. help reduce global warming B. use water in a wise way
C. donate money for charity D. keep a balanced diet
73. What is an advantage of CFLs according to the passage?
A. They use more energy but produce more light.
B. They can last longer so don't need to be replaced often.
C. They cost less than standard incandescent bulbs.
D. They are as energy-efficient as incandescent bulbs.
74. Which of the following figures is correct according to the passage?
A. Every year an American buys 63 plastic water bottles on average.
B. Eating meat one day less a week helps cut environment costs.
C. 99 of the pesticides used on crops is effective in practice.
D. Electronics account for half of poisonous heavy metals on the earth.
75. Which can be the best title for this passage?
A. Why is the earth getting warmer? B. What can we do about pollution? C. How can you lead a greener life? D. Who is to blame for global warming?
D
A curriculum vitae (CV) provides an overview of a person's life and qualifications. You know that you're a star but without a knock-out CV, no-one else will believe you. Here's how to impress and write yourself into a better job.
First, be concise (简洁的). "It's not War and Peace." says Steven Kirkpatrick, the managing director of Adecco Staffing. Recruiters (考官) who have to plough through hundreds of CVs don't enjoy flowery long articles. Use active verbs and ensure that every sentence counts.
Second, tell the truth. "The most important thing is not to lie," Kirkpatrick says. "People decorate their CV by adding things to make themselves more attractive," he says, only to embarrass themselves later. "If your first impression is a lie, it's not a great basis for moving forward."
Then, focus on your skills. A CV is a selling tool and how you break down what you have learnt and what you can do is me most important. "It's OK to simplify job titles to make them clearer," Sharman says. "Just outline your achievements and experience to back that up, and say more about your recent roles."
Also, personalize it. "There's nothing as bad as getting an automatically created CV from a website," Kirkpatrick says. "What they are buying is you, so sell them you. It's always nice to have personal information that makes you a human being," Sharman says. But do try to stand out from the crowd.
Finished? So you've written the perfect CV. That's the job half done. Last but not least, check out how to write the perfect covering letter.
68. For what purpose does the author write this passage?
A. To teach readers how to behave in job interviews.
B. To tell readers how to improve their writing skills.
C. To instruct readers on how to apply for a job.
D. To advise readers on how to write a CV.
69. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. It doesn't have to be too long. B. It should be true.
C. It needs to be fun to read. D. It ought to be polite.
70. Which of the following would the author recommend?
A. Tell lies about your education and experience.
B. Focus on what work you are able to do.
C. Download sample CVs from websites.
D. Provide a nice photo of yourself.
71. How many tips are given in this passage?
A. Five. B. Four. C. Three. D. Two.
C
Sitting in a dark movie theater with your friends. and a tub of popcorn (H^) sounds like a perfect way to spend a Saturday night, and it could be, if you are willing to share your popcorn with the entire row of moviegoers around you.
A review of movie-theater popcorn reveals an alarming amount of fat, salt and calories in even the smallest sizes. A large tub of popcorn at Regal Cinemas, for example, holds 20 cups of popcorn and has 1,200 calories, 980 milligrams of sodium (钠) and 60 grams of saturated (饱和的) fat. Adding just a tablespoon of butter adds 130 calories. And do not forget that it comes with free refills.
Not so hungry? The medium size popcorn, even the small, at 11 cups, delivers 670 calories, 550 milligrams of sodium .and 24 grams of saturated fat. The findings may surprise those who believe it is a relatively healthy snack. In fact, plain air-popped popcorn is low in calories and free of saturated fat. Movie theater popcorn, however, is popped in oil, often coconut oil, which is 90 percent saturated fat. Add salt to it, and your once-healthy snack turns into a health offender.
One way to make your popcorn healthier? Ask the theater to pop the corn without salt. The best way to make your movie snack healthier, however, would be to skip the popcorn.
"You could share a tub of popcorn with 10 friends," Dr. Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, said. "Or, what a concept, watch the movie without eating anything."
64. The review finds that movie theatre popcorn may contain all the following EXCEPT ______.
A. butterB. sodium C. saturated fat D. pepper
65. What does the author think of popcorn prepared in coconut oil?
A. It is a healthy snack. B. It does harm to our health.
C. It looks like a perfect choice. D. It is very nutritious.
66. Which kind of popcorn causes the least health concern?
A. Movie theatre popcorn. B. Popcorn sold at Regal Cinemas.
C. Large size popcorn. D. Plain air-popped popcorn.
67. What is Dr. Nestle's suggestion to moviegoers?
A. Avoid eating popcorn. B. Share popcorn with friends.
C. Not eating anything in the movie theatre. D. Try eating other kind of food.
B
On the last day of his life, my dog Otto spent that morning of spring napping in the garden. This was always one of his favorite things to do, even before the days when he was too old and too weak to get out of a car by himself.
I probably would have started crying over Otto right then, if my two other little dogs hadn't suddenly raced past. Larry, who was a puppy, got knocked into Otto, then licked Otto's ear, and that got Otto excited, and Otto barked and tried to stand up again, but it was hard for him.
Soon it was time for me to drive to see Steve, our vet.
When Steve gave Otto the first shot, it made him woozy (眩晕的). Otto wandered over to where Steve and I were sitting and settled down between us. He has always liked to touch everyone in his pack, if possible, while he sleeps.
After Steve gave him the last shot and Otto stopped breathing, he didn't look like Otto anymore. He looked like an old gray-brown piece of beat-up carpet, and I suddenly realized what bad shape he'd been in for a long, long time. I wondered if he'd been in much more pain than I knew. Wondering made me feel even worse.
The week after Otto died was not good. Every morning when I walked Larry and Sticky in the neighborhood, somebody would come up and say they had heard about Otto and they were sorry. They were all Otto's friends and some of them cried. Others, like Debbie who lives on my street, reminded me about how, even at the end. Otto would stand between her twins' stroller (婴儿车) and the street when the garbage truck went by. "Like it was his job to protect them," she marveled.
Otto has left us, but his memory lives on.
60. How did the author feel when Otto was napping in the garden?
A. She felt like crying. B. She thought life was beautiful.
C. She found spring was wonderful. D. She was relieved.
61. According to the passage, how did the dog die?
A. He had an accident on the street. B. He died naturally.
C. He was made to die by a vet. D. He starved.
62. What can we know about Otto?
A. He was already too old to bark. B. He liked people to keep him company. C. He died a very painful death. D. He was protected by the neighbours.
63. We can see from the passage that Sticky is a ______.
A. cat B. dog C. child D. neighbour